Even though the Pakistan team is not the favorites for the World Cup 2023, especially with the loss of Naseem Shah and their lackluster show in losses to India in the Asia Cup 2023, captain Babar Azam boldly stated reaching the semi-final is a “small goal” for his team, and that Pakistan want to win the whole tournament; lift the World Cup trophy at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19.
Pakistan finished last in the Super 4 round in the Asia Cup; they lost the services of Naseem due to a shoulder injury; they lost their number 1 ranking in ODIs; they had public issues with the delay in the issuance of their visas for India; their team-bonding trip to Dubai had to be canceled; Babar’s own number 1 ODI batsman ranking is under threat; there were calls from fans and ex-cricketers to drop their vice-captain, leg-spinner Shadab Khan. Pakistan have not made it into the semi-final of the last two ODI World Cups.
We want to come out as winners: Babar Azam
“The top four is a small goal for us. We want to come out as winners,” Babar Azam said on Tuesday before the team boarded their plane.
“We did not have enough time to put together a camp before the World Cup because we had been playing for too long continuously. Instead, we gave the players a break so they could come back refreshed and with the hunger to win. You play well when you have that hunger.”
“Before the last two games in the Asia Cup, we were doing really well with the same team. Although we could not deliver the way we could, we have learned from our mistakes, as individuals and as a team. We have discussed all our mistakes as a team with the support staff and put it behind us. Asia Cup was a different tournament, the World Cup is entirely different.”
Until their Super 4 match against India, Pakistan were a favorite for many not just for the Asia Cup, but for the World Cup as well. From thereon, they have had to deal with on and off-field problems.
“We try our best to block out the noise and play with our 100% attention. I try to make sure that the noise does not get to the team and I handle all issues I can outside the dressing room,” Babar said.
Pakistan will play Netherlands and Sri Lanka in their first two matches in the World Cup, before the epic, mouth-watering encounter with India on October 14 in Ahmedabad.
Pakistan squad for the World Cup 2023: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Hasan Ali
