Earlier this week, the International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiled the fixtures for the 2023 ODI World Cup, scheduled to be held in India from October 5 to November 19.

As per the schedule, the high-voltage India versus Pakistan clash will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 15.

With nearly three months left for the quadrennial event, Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq has made a rather interesting remark on touring India.

Notably, the Pakistan cricket team hasn’t travelled to India since the T20 World Cup 2016. On the other hand, the Men in Green last played a bilateral series on Indian soil way back in 2012-23.

While it will be the first visit to India for the current crop of Pakistani players, Imam revealed that he had a conversation with skipper Babar Azam about playing in the neighbouring country long before their national debut.

“Playing in India, especially against India and doing something special (was something) which Babar and I were discussing before 2010,” Imam said during a chat on YouTube channel Grassroots Cricket.

“I really believe our one-day team is the most compatible and balanced team. The combination is similar to 2019. Whenever you give opportunities to players, performances will come. We have chased 350 here (in Pakistan), we've scored 330 in South Africa, we won the series there. So yes, everybody is excited. A bit nervous as well, I won't lie. This team can do wonders, and it would be good for our nation if we win the World Cup in India,” he added.

Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata are the other four venues where Pakistan’s league matches have been allocated.

If Babar and his men qualify for the semi-final, they will play in Kolkata instead of Mumbai regardless of their standing in the points table at the end of the league stage.

Pakistan will open their 50-over World Cup campaign against the top-placed team from the ongoing ICC World Cup Qualifiers on October 6 in Hyderabad.