(Image source: X.com/@babarazam258)
[Saba Sports News] The Pakistan cricket team is all set to participate in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Babar Azam will lead the Pakistan side, which will be traveling to India after seven years, with hopes of turning their fortunes around. They recently finished last in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup 2023. Pakistan will arrive in Hyderabad, India, on Wednesday evening.
During the pre-departure press conference held in Lahore on Tuesday, Babar answered various questions from the media.
Babar and his team will be playing in India for the first time and might be unfamiliar with the pitch conditions.
When asked about this, the skipper responded, “Although we have not played in India before, we are not taking too much pressure. We have done our research and we have heard the conditions are similar to how they play out in other Asian countries. It is quite an honour for me to travel as the captain this time around, I hope we come back with a trophy this time.”
The 28-year-old further stated that Pakistan’s goal is not to reach the semi-finals but become the winner.
“The top-four is a small goal for us. We will become No. 1. We did not have enough time to put together a camp before the World Cup because we had been playing for too long continuously. We wanted to give the players a break so they come back refreshed and with the hunger to win. You play well when you have that hunger,” he added.
Pakistan will kick off their World Cup campaign in Hyderabad with their first two matches to be played at the same venue against Netherlands and Sri Lanka on October 6 and 10. Following that, Pakistan will fly to Ahmedabad to face the hosts India in a high-octane clash on October 14.