Tomorrow (Friday) marks the much-awaited start of Pakistan’s ICC World Cup 2023 campaign against the Netherlands at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. For supporters of Pakistani cricket, this is a momentous occasion.
The Babar Azam team has made the most of the training sessions and two warm-up games since arriving in the city eight days ago, which also happened to be the first time a Pakistan men’s team had landed in India in seven years, to become acclimated to the city where they will play the first two of their nine league matches.
ICC World Cup Warm Up matches
Pakistan also used the warm-up matches against Australia and New Zealand to hone their lineups and give the whole team much-needed competitive experience.
Babar said to PCB Digital the night before Pakistan’s first match of the tournament, “We have been in Hyderabad for a week, and we are incredibly well-prepared,”
We attempted various lineups in our two practice matches, giving everyone a chance to see if they could play in any circumstance. We did a good job practicing overall, and we’ll try our hardest.
ICC World Cup Pakistan can be Favorites
Pakistan had an outstanding run in the just-finished World Cup cycle, ending with the greatest win-loss ratio of 2.400 with 24 victories in 36 games, and they are among the favorites going into the 50-over World Cup.
One reason for the team’s remarkable consistency in performance throughout the years has been the emergence of their stalwarts as reliable players.
Babar Azam, has become a modern-day legend
Since he became the first Pakistani player to score the most runs in a World Cup in 2019, their skipper, Babar Azam, has become a modern-day legend and currently sits atop the ICC ODI batting rankings.
He is one of just two players in the last four years to score more than 2,000 runs. With a strike rate of 93.72 and an average of 66.54, he has amassed an amazing 2,196 runs.
He and Shai Hope, the other batter to surpass 2,000 runs, have combined for the most centuries throughout this time, with nine.
Currently ranked sixth with 1,284 runs at an average of 45.85 and a strike rate of 84.41 is Imam-ul-Haq, the compatriot of Babar Azam. In the last four years, he has amassed two centuries and thirteen half-centuries.
Pakistan has One of the Dangerous Bowling attack
One of the most dangerous bowlers in the game is Shaheen Afridi, who made history in his most recent ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup match by being the youngest bowler to take five wickets.
Despite missing almost seven months due to a knee injury, Shaheen’s influence in the format has been so great that he is now a vital member of Pakistan’s renowned pace attack.
Over the past four years, he has amassed 46 wickets at a cost of 25.26 and an outstanding economy of 5.42.
ICC World Cup Pakistan bowler will be Furious.
Pakistan kept producing talented fast bowlers in between the two tournaments. Since making his debut in October 2020, Haris Rauf, who is perhaps the hardest part of the ODI game to play, has established himself by turning up outstanding spells in the middle overs.
In the most recent Men’s ODI Asia Cup 2023, he took over the 50-wick mark and claimed 53 wickets; nonetheless, his 5.68 economy rate has been the most impressive aspect of his bowling.
When asked what he believed his team’s strengths were, Babar Azam said, “Both bowling and batting are our strengths.”
“Our hitters have been hitting at all levels of the bat,” said the coach. Each player is assuming accountability and moving up. Our quick bowling has always been our strongest suit as bowlers, but even our spinners are coming on strong.
It’s encouraging that our spinners have been picking up wickets in the middle overs we arrived in India. We’ll make an effort to maintain this momentum.
ICC World cup 2023 After 11 years on Indian Soil
Pakistan will play an ODI on Indian soil for the first time in just under 11 years when they play the Netherlands on Friday.
Despite the fact that they haven’t participated in a 50-over international match in Hyderabad since 1987, the team has made sure that everything is ready for the enormous occasion.
In light of my personal experience and what I’ve seen of Indian matches on TV, I’d say the pitches look excellent. The games will have a lot of points.
Regarding the limits, they are of a typical size—not excessively small or large. The pitches are accurate; as a batter, you may require a little more time at the beginning of the game, but when you play for a long, it feels great.
The bowlers have little leeway since they must maintain their lines from wicket to wicket and use variety. The hitters will take full advantage of any errors in lines.
Babar Azam remarked
“My trip has been pretty good,” Babar Azam remarked, reflecting on the past four years. Naturally, there have been ups and downs. Even though there have occasionally been difficulties, I have made an effort to meet and exceed the fans’ expectations.
“In the process, I have come to know many wonderful people. I was able to build relationships with some excellent coworkers that I met. Pakistan has gotten along great in the three years since I stopped playing with these youngsters.
We wind up spending more time together than with our family at the end of the day. We make an effort to be pleased with each other’s work and to provide Pakistan with all we have.
Warm welcome for Pakistan At Hyderabad
Recalling the welcome the Pakistani team received at the Hyderabad airport last week. Babar conveyed his appreciation to the many Indians who came out to welcome him and his hope that he would soon see Pakistani supporters supporting his team throughout the nation at the 2023 ICC World Cup.
To be honest, we weren’t prepared for this kind of response. When we got to the airport, a lot of people showed there. They gave us encouragement and cheered us on. The last game drew a sizable attendance.
They supported some of their favorite players and appeared to be having a great time with the game. Thus, it is pleasant. It would feel even better, in my opinion, if there were Pakistani supporters present.
ICC World Cup Matches
Pakistan and the Netherlands will play one other in an ODI for the eighth time on Friday.
Since their first encounter in the 1996 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, the two teams have played six times in the format, with Pakistan emerging victorious each time.
In the first-ever bilateral series between the two countries, Pakistan toured the Netherlands last year and won handily.
 marks the much-awaited start of Pakistan's ICC World Cup 2023 campaign against the Netherlands at Hyderabad.){kind=link}