Pakistan’s cricket captain, Babar Azam, expressed his gratitude for the warm reception he and his team received upon arriving in India for the World Cup 2023. The Pakistan cricket team arrived in Hyderabad, India on September 28, and their captain was moved by the outpouring of love and support from Indian fans.
Babar Azam, the Lahore-born captain of the Pakistan cricket team, shared his feelings of being overwhelmed by the love and support shown to him and his teammates upon their arrival in India for the World Cup 2023. The Pakistani squad landed in Hyderabad, India, on September 28, amid heightened security at the airport, and their reception by fans was a heartwarming experience.
Taking to his Instagram account, Babar Azam posted a picture capturing the warm welcome they received and expressed his emotions, writing, “Overwhelmed with the love and support here in Hyderabad.”
Shaheen Shah Afridi, another prominent player in the Pakistan team, also commended the Indian fans for their warm reception of the Pakistani cricketers.
Before departing for India, Babar Azam attended a press conference where he discussed his team’s goal of winning the World Cup title in India, rather than just aiming for a top-two finish. Pakistan recently lost its No.1 ranking in ODIs to India after the Indian team defeated Australia 2-1 in a bilateral ODI series. However, Pakistan has an opportunity to regain the top spot by performing well in the upcoming tournament, starting with their first league match against the Netherlands at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
Ahead of the official matches, Pakistan is scheduled to play a couple of warm-up matches to prepare for the World Cup. Their journey to the final of the Asia Cup was cut short after losses to India and Sri Lanka in the Super Fours stage. Additionally, Pakistan faced a setback when Naseem Shah was ruled out of the tournament due to injury. In his absence, Hasan Ali was called up to the squad, despite having played only seven ODIs since the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales.
The Pakistan cricket team’s arrival in India has generated significant excitement and anticipation among fans, and Babar Azam’s heartfelt acknowledgment of the warm welcome underscores the spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship that transcends borders during cricket tournaments. As the World Cup 2023 kicks off, fans from both nations eagerly await the thrilling cricketing action and hope for a successful and competitive tournament.