CWC 2023: ‘I got a lot of love from India,’ Babar Azam opens up about hospitality in India during World Cup

Babar Azam said that Pakistan struggled to adapt to Indian conditions.

Babar Azam | Getty Images

Pakistan captain Babar Azam spoke positively about his experience of traveling to India for the first time despite their ordinary performance in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

Babar admitted that he couldn’t deliver upto his own expectations, but he played according to his team’s needs in the ongoing World Cup.

Speaking about the hospitality in India, the Pakistan captain said that he is thankful for the love and support shown by the Indian fans during the tournament. Babar added that the entire Pakistan team has received a lot of love in India.

Read Also: CWC 2023: Virender Sehwag strikes again, takes brutal 'Wasim Akram' dig at Pakistan's bowling attack

Babar Azam said in a pre-match press conference ahead of the England clash: “To be honest - first I got a lot of love from India, a lot of support. Not only me, the entire team. Of course, I was not able to get a good finish. My goal was to get a good finish in the batting. I didn't have a goal to score 50 or 100.”

The star batter continued, “The main thing was to make the win the team. The performance that helps the team, not my individual performance. I played slow, I played fast, depending on the situation. I play according to the situation and according to what my team need.”

Speaking about team’s struggle in the ongoing World Cup 2023, the Pakistan skipper said: “We came here for the first time, we didn't have the awareness of how to take it, but we adapted as soon as possible in practice, that we will have to face it like this.”

Babar signed off by saying, “So, we faced this thing, we took it and planned accordingly that how do we bat here. Because as I said, in the middle and end you get runs. In the middle overs when the ball is old you struggle a bit - as a batsman.”

Notably, the Men in Green are currently up against England in their last game of the tournament at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Barring a miracle, they will be officially eliminated tonight.

(With Cricket NDTV inputs)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 11 Nov, 2023

    Share Via