Pakistan team off to India to participate in World Cup

Pakistan team off to India to participate in World Cup

Cricket

Pakistan will play their opening match of the ICC World Cup against the Netherlands on Oct 6.

LAHORE (Dunya News) - Pakistan cricket team departed for India to participate in the ICC World Cup 2023 in the wee hours of Wednesday, Dunya News reported.

The team left from Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport for India via Dubai. Pakistan are scheduled to land in Hyderabad, India at 8:15pm today (Wednesday).

The travel contingent consists 18 players and 13 player support personnel. Bowling coach Morne Morkel will join the team in Dubai. Team director Mickey Arthur will join Pakistan cricket squad in India.

Pakistan will play their first warm-up on 29 September against New Zealand and the second and last against Australia on 3 October. Babar Azam-led Paki­stan will play their opening match of the ICC World Cup against the Netherlands on Oct 6.

Pakistan’s cricket team captain for the ICC World Cup 2023 Babar Azam has said that the players’ morale is very high and will try their best to perform well in the mega event.

Talking to media before departure for India, Babar Azam said the national team has worked hard and the recent experience in Asia Cup will help all in doing their utmost during the Cup.

To a question, he said preparatory training sessions for the World Cup were not conducted because it was a week after the Asia Cup and the players needed rest to avoid fatigue.

He refuted reports about pressure on the team while playing in India saying the players will attract fans attention by playing well.

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (C), Shadab Khan (VC), Fakhar Zaman, Imam ul Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hassan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr

Travelling reserves: Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Haris, Zaman Khan