Pakistan’s director, Mickey Arthur, exudes confidence in Babar Azam and the team, asserting their ability to defeat any opponent at any venue. In an interview with a local news channel, Arthur addressed concerns about Pakistan’s World Cup venues.
“We have no issues with the venues. Our squad is strong enough to overcome any team, anywhere. I am extremely satisfied with the selected venues,” expressed Arthur, who previously led Pakistan to victory in the 2017 Champions Trophy in England.
“While we can’t control external factors, we can focus on our preparations and performance. The pressure from fans will be challenging, especially playing in front of 100,000 people in Ahmedabad where the stands may lack green support,” he acknowledged.
“However, we will address this matter closer to the World Cup. My objective with the players is to instill a positive mindset. If we silence the stadiums by playing exceptional cricket, our fans and support base will speak through our performance,” Arthur added.
Pakistan’s highly-anticipated clash with arch-rivals India is set to take place at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 15, a venue known for its large seating capacity.
When discussing Pakistan’s squad for the World Cup and Asia Cup, Arthur hinted at minimal changes. “I have confidence in our current pool of players. We have 20 players, and most likely, we will select 15 of them for these tournaments. Therefore, the composition won’t differ significantly,” he revealed.
“Most probably, players will be chosen from the recent series against New Zealand. Providing stability to the players is crucial as it clarifies their roles within the team,” Arthur concluded.
Pakistan’s ICC World Cup 2023 Schedule:
- October 6: vs Netherlands in Hyderabad
- October 12: vs Sri Lanka in Hyderabad
- October 15: vs India in Ahmedabad
- October 20: vs Australia in Bengaluru
- October 23: vs Afghanistan in Chennai
- October 27: vs South Africa in Chennai
- October 31: vs Bangladesh in Kolkata
- November 4: vs New Zealand in Bengaluru (Day match)
- November 12: vs England in Kolkata
