The Pakistan cricket team has truly enjoyed themselves since landing in India for the ODI World Cup 2023. Since reaching Hyderabad, the Pakistan team has been full of praise for the hospitality their players have received in India. After their first warm-up match against New Zealand in Hyderabad, Babar Azam’s men enjoyed a lavish dinner and also took a few selfies with the fans. The official Twitter account (now X) of the Pakistan Cricket Board shared a video of the team’s dinner, where the players were seen having a gala time.
Meeting place in Hyderabad: A glimpse of the Pakistan team dinner #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/R2mB9rQurN
— Pakistani cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 30, 2023
Pakistan did not get off to the most promising start on the sporting front as they were defeated by New Zealand in Friday’s practice match.
Batting first, Pakistan posted a mammoth total of 345 runs at the Raji Gandhi International Stadium. But their bowlers were able to defend the target as the Kiwis improved the total in 43.4 overs.
For New Zealand, Rachin Ravindra (97), Kane Williamson (54), Daryl Mitchell (59) and Mark Chapman (65) were the top-scoring batters.
For Pakistan, Mohammad Rizwan (103), Babar Azam (80) and Saud Shakeel (75) performed best with the bat.
“A hundred is a hundred, we are proud and happy with that. Scoring a century for Pakistan is always special. The Indian crowd gave us a lot of love at the airport itself, just like our fans in Pakistan love us. We were welcomed to India in a great way. In T20Is I open for Pakistan, in Tests I play at 6-7, and in ODIs I play at number 4, I play as per the team requirements.
“Saud Shakeel is in great form and he played a classy bat today. Hopefully he turns out to be a great player in the ODI format too. Me and Babar are trying to rotate the bat, we bat in the same way, our communication is good and that helps us,” Rizwan said during the mid-inning break.
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