A mere day after receiving their visas for the ICC World Cup 2023, slated to be held in India, Babar Azam's Pakistan cricket team has at last touched down in the city of Hyderabad, eagerly anticipating the grand event scheduled to commence this coming Wednesday. This monumental occasion marks Pakistan's first visit to India in seven years, setting the stage for an epic showdown on the cricket field. The Pakistan men's cricket squad, fresh from wrapping up a riveting three-match series against their formidable opponents, Australia, now gears up to partake in the One Day International (ODI) edition of the ICC World Cup, which is all set to unfold on October 5.
The journey to Hyderabad saw Babar Azam and his cohorts embark on a long, arduous voyage, including a taxing nine-hour layover in the bustling transit hub of Dubai. The Green Army embarked on their expedition from Lahore in the early hours of Wednesday, ultimately reaching Hyderabad under the cloak of night. Harking back to their glorious triumph in the 1992 edition of the ICC World Cup, Babar's Pakistan side is now poised to engage in their first warm-up encounter against the 2019 World Cup runners-up, New Zealand, scheduled for September 29.
Subsequently, these Asian titans will cross paths with the five-time champions, Australia, on October 3, setting the stage for a riveting cricketing spectacle. Babar's men are primed to ignite their campaign in the World Cup against the Netherlands at the illustrious Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on October 6.
It's worth noting that members of the Pakistan cricket team were granted their Indian visas with less than 48 hours to spare before the team's intended departure to Hyderabad. Pakistani skipper Babar Azam, who had to sit out the 2016 World Cup in India due to an unfortunate injury, expressed his excitement about playing in Ahmedabad, anticipating a fervently packed stadium.
In his own words, he shared, "I am fully committed to giving my best performance on the field. My focus lies not on individual accolades but on ensuring that my contributions contribute to the team's success." These sentiments were conveyed by Babar during the press conference held just before their departure.
Among the current squad members, only two players, Mohammad Nawaz and Salman Ali Agha, have previous experience of competing in a showpiece event on Indian soil. Hosts India, led by the illustrious Rohit Sharma as captain, are set to cross swords with arch-rivals Pakistan in the 12th match of the World Cup, a highly anticipated encounter scheduled to take place at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium on October 14. Zaka Ashraf, the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee, conveyed his confidence in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), assuring the ICC and the cricketing fraternity that all participating teams will receive top-tier security and hospitality. In his words, "I have no doubt that our team will be well taken care of during our time in India."
The roster for the Pakistan cricket team in the ICC World Cup 2023 includes the following players: Babar Azam (Captain), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Wasim.
