(Image Source: Twitter)
[Saba Sports News] Pakistan is among the strong contenders for the upcoming ODI World Cup, hosted exclusively in India for the first time. Despite a less memorable Asia Cup campaign, they are considered a formidable team in sub-continental conditions.
Captain Babar Azam and the team arrived in Hyderabad on September 27, receiving a warm welcome from Indian cricket enthusiasts. They shared their appreciation on social media.
However, a controversial statement by Zaka Ashraf, the chairperson of the PCB’s Management Committee, caused outrage. In a viral video, he referred to Pakistan traveling to an ‘enemy country’ while discussing lucrative contracts for Pakistani cricketers.
These remarks faced severe criticism from both Indian and Pakistani fans. Pakistan will play warm-up matches against New Zealand on September 29 and Australia on October 3, both in Hyderabad. Their World Cup campaign begins with a match against the Netherlands on October 6, followed by the highly anticipated India-Pakistan match in Ahmedabad on October 14.