Babar Azam ‘overwhelmed’ as Pakistan stars react to ‘amazing’ welcome in India
On a significant day for cricket fans worldwide, the stars of the Pakistani cricket team touched down in India for the highly anticipated 2023 Men's ODI World Cup, set to kick off on October 5th. This marks Pakistan's first visit to India since 2016, and the atmosphere at the airport in Hyderabad was electric as the team arrived with tight security measures in place.
Excited fans, cordoned off by security personnel, enthusiastically cheered for their beloved team captain, Babar Azam, and other players who had just arrived. Pakistan's journey in the seven-week-long World Cup begins the day after the opening ceremony.
Historically, India and Pakistan have experienced political tensions, limiting cricket matches between the two nations to global and continental tournaments. However, on this particular Wednesday, Pakistan received a warm and grand welcome in India.
The players expressed their delight on their official social media accounts. Captain Babar Azam, star bowler Shaheen Afridi, and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan were among those who took to social media to convey their gratitude to the Indian authorities and the enthusiastic crowd.
Mohammad Rizwan expressed his joy, saying, “Amazing reception from the people here. Everything was super smooth. Looking forward to the next 1.5 months,” in a post on X.
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Both Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi shared their excitement through Instagram stories. Babar, the Pakistan captain, conveyed that he was “overwhelmed” by the love and support shown in India. Meanwhile, Shaheen Afridi, the formidable left-arm pacer, was genuinely impressed by the warm welcome.
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The 2023 World Cup promises 48 matches spread across 46 days at ten different venues, with the grand finale set for November 19th. Pakistan has scheduled two warm-up matches—a clash against New Zealand on September 29th and another against Australia on October 3rd, both taking place in Hyderabad.
Notably, the match against New Zealand will be held behind closed doors due to security considerations related to a major festival on that day.
In a pre-departure press conference held in Pakistan, Captain Babar Azam addressed the team's feelings about the upcoming tournament. He emphasized that the team is proud to represent their country at the World Cup and acknowledged the absence of their passionate fans.
“We are all proud to be part of this World Cup journey. While we haven't played in India before, we aren't feeling undue pressure. We have studied the conditions, and they appear to be similar to those in other Asian countries. It's a great honor for me to lead the team this time, and I hope we return with the trophy.”
Babar Azam also touched on the bittersweet aspect of the tournament, stating, “Unfortunately, we will miss our fans. However, I've heard that the stadiums are sold out, so we'll be playing in front of packed audiences. While our fans won't be physically present, I'm confident their support will resonate on social media. I've heard that Indian fans also express their love, and I'm excited to experience that firsthand.”
In summary, the Pakistani cricket team's arrival in India for the 2023 World Cup has been met with an overwhelming and heartwarming reception, setting the stage for an exciting and competitive tournament. Captain Babar Azam and his teammates are eager to make their mark and are grateful for the warm welcome they've received from Indian cricket enthusiasts.
While they will miss their fans in person, they are looking forward to the passionate support they'll receive both in the stadiums and on social media. The 2023 World Cup promises to be a thrilling cricketing spectacle.
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