Shadab Khan, the vice-captain of the Pakistan cricket team, recently shared his thoughts on the upcoming ODI World Cup in India, highlighting the unique challenges that the team will face while participating in the tournament on Indian soil. As the countdown to the much-awaited event begins, Khan’s insights shed light on the mental strength required to navigate a tournament where home support might be lacking.
The ODI World Cup 2023 is set to commence on October 5th, with the match between England and New Zealand at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, will initiate their campaign against the Netherlands on October 6th. This encounter follows the Netherlands’ qualification by triumphing over Zimbabwe and West Indies in the qualifying matches.
One of the most anticipated moments of the tournament is the historic clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, scheduled for October 14th at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This match holds immense significance for cricket fans across both countries and promises to be a gripping showdown.
During the World Cup, Shadab Khan and the Pakistani team are set to grace iconic Indian stadiums, including the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and Eden Gardens in Kolkata. These historic venues are among India’s largest cricket stadiums, adding prestige to the tournament.
In addition to the ODI World Cup, Pakistan and India will face each other in the Asia Cup 2023. Starting on August 30th, this competition will see the arch-rivals clash on September 2nd at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka.
“One minor injury, you will play IPL but not for India”: Kapil Dev’s Scathing Attack At Indian Star Player
In an interview following a match for Sussex County Cricket Club, Shadab Khan acknowledged the special significance of playing in the prestigious World Cup for Pakistan. He emphasized that the team might not have the luxury of crowd support in India, making mental strength a crucial aspect of their performance. Khan expressed confidence in the Pakistani players’ mental resilience and ability to overcome this challenge, thereby contributing to a successful tournament.
Shadab Khan "We won't have the crowd support in India. In that sense we'll have to be very strong mentally. The way our players are, mentally strong, I think we'll have a good tournament" #CWC23 #Cricket pic.twitter.com/zTaZx3M505
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) August 11, 2023
“It is a special moment for any Pakistani player to play World Cup for his country. We won’t have crowd support in India. In that sense, we’ll have to be very strong mentally. We’ll have a good tournament because our players are mentally strong,” Shadab Khan said.
