The Pakistan cricket team has been greeted with warm applause and loud cheers by hundreds of Indian fans upon its arrival before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, which starts on October 5.
The contingent landed at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad late on Wednesday and was given a raucous welcome by local fans who had lined up to catch a glimpse of the cricket stars from across the border.
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Videos posted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on X, formerly Twitter, showed fans taking photographs with their phones and shouting the Pakistani players names to catch their attention as the squad walked past them inside the terminal.
Bigger crowds awaited the players outside the terminal and along their route out of the airport.
They let out loud cheers for Pakistans captain and star batter Babar Azam when he smiled and waved back while boarding the teams bus.
A warm welcome in Hyderabad as we land on Indian shores #WeHaveWeWill | #CWC23pic.twitter.com/poyWmFYIwK
Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 27, 2023
Indian fans are eager to see us
The squad was scheduled to leave for the United Arab Emirates last week for a two-day team bonding session in Dubai before proceeding to India, but a visa delay meant the departure was delayed by a few days, leaving the teams plans in disarray.
Prior to setting off for India, Azam said he expected Indian fans to support Pakistan despite decades of tense ties between the two countries.
Most of our matches are sold out, which means Indian fans are eager to see us and support us in the stadiums, Azam told reporters in Pakistan earlier this week.
Former players who have toured India have told us to expect Indian cricket fans to cheer for us and greet us with warmth.
Amazing reception from the people here. Everything was super smooth. Looking forward to the next 1.5 months
Muhammad Rizwan (@iMRizwanPak) September 27, 2023
Heartwarming scenes belie political tension
The heartwarming scenes in Hyderabad belied the diplomatic tensions that have all but stopped cross-border tourism and bilateral series due to stern restrictions on the movements of their citizens across the heavily militarised border.
Both countries have been bitter rivals since their independence from British rule in 1947. They have fought three wars since and often exchange political barbs at international forums.
Despite the strained relations between both governments, athletes from both nations have maintained friendly terms and are often seen sharing laughs before or after matches.
A Pakistan cricket fan cheers as the cricket team arrives at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, India [Mahesh Kumar A/AP Photo]
Star Indian batter Virat Kohli is a firm favourite in Pakistan, where fans have been spotted wearing Pakistan cricket teams replica shirts with Kohlis name emblazoned on the back.
Ahead of the India-Pakistan clash at the recently concluded Asia Cup, Kohli was seen animatedly chatting with Pakistan players and later went on to share jokes with them during rain delays.
Indias javelin Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra and Pakistans Arshad Nadeem wrapped arms around each other after their podium finish at the World Athletics Championship in Romania last month.
Pakistan are set to play their first pretournament warm-up match against New Zealand in Hyderabad on Friday. They begin their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands at the same venue a week later on October 7.
Month: September 2023
Mayank Agarwal ends ‘conspiracy theory’ over viral 2019 picture with Pant, Dhoni – Hindustan Times
When India were in England for the World Cup in 2019, a picture featuring MS Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah, Mayank Agarwal, Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya had created quite the sensation on the internet. Now, for players to get pictures clicked and posting them on Instagram is common, right? But this photo brought along a certain share of mystery which took as many as four years to get solved. The picture, posted on Hardik’s social media with the caption ‘Boys’s day out’, caught all five cricketers in a good mood but what fans couldn’t help but notice was somebody’s hand around Pant’s shoulders
It was Mayank Agarwal’s hand on Rishabh Pant’s shoulder after all.(Hardik Pandya/Twitter)
The picture posted on July 4, two days before India’s win over Bangladesh in Birmingham and a couple of days following a victory over Sri Lanka at Leeds, soon went viral as users on the internet went crazy scratching their heads to debunk solve the query ‘Whose hand is it on Pant’s shoulders?’ Dhoni hands were clearly visible while Bumrah’s left hand was on MSD’s shoulders. So whose was it on Pant’s?
The puzzle was finally solved by Agarwal himself as he took to X (formerly Twitter) to end the suspense. “After years of extensive research, debates, and countless conspiracy theories, let the nation finally know: It is MY hand on @RishabhPant17’s shoulder. PS: Any and all other claims are misleading and not true,” the India batter wrote.
Agarwal, initially omitted from India’s 2019 World Cup squad, was called in as a replacement for the injured Vijay Shankar. After the India all-rounder played three matches against Pakistan, Afghanistan and West Indies Shankar has suffered a foot injury, which was later revealed to be a ‘non-displaced fracture of the left big toe, which will require a minimum of three weeks to heal’. On July 1, the ICC approved Agarwal as his replacement.
Pant himself was a late addition in India’s World Cup squad, replacing an injured Shikhar Dhawan. Originally left out of the 15-member unit, Pant’s omission was received with a lot of public backlash, but after Dhawan fractured his wrist during the game against Australia, the doors opened for Pant. He joined the team and played his first match against England, scoring 32, and followed it with scores of 48 against Bangladesh, 4 against Sri Lanka ands 32 against New Zealand in the semifinal.
India vs Saudi Arabia, Asian Games Live Score: Chhetri and Co. frustrate Argentina-conquerors in 2nd half – Hindustan Times
India vs Saudi Arabia football match, Asian Games 2023 live updates: Did you know?All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced a 22-member squad which was cut to 17 after Indian clubs reportedly raised their concerns over releasing players for the Asian Games. Senior players Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Sandesh Jhingan were left out of the second list. However, goal machine Chhetri was retained in Stimac’s Indian side for the Asian Games. Later, star defender Jhingan was also added to India’s squad. India have also included Chinglensana Singh, Lalchungnunga and Deepak Tangri in its Asian Games squad.
A look at full squad of Indian mens football team for Asian Games:
Goalkeepers: Gurmeet Singh, Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem.
Defenders: Sumit Rathi, Narender Gahlot, Deepak Tangri, Sandesh Jhingan, Chinglensana Singh, Lalchungnunga.
Midfielders: Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Samuel James Lyngdoh, Rahul KP, Abdul Rabeeh, Ayush Dev Chhetri, Bryce Miranda, Azfar Noorani, Vincy Barretto.
Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Rahim Ali, Rohit Danu, Gurkirat Singh, Aniket Jadhav.
‘Taken Off from Mumbai Airport’: Indian Men’s Cricket Team Leaves for Asian Games in China – News18
Massive moments from the past at Motegi! 🤯 – MotoGP
Danushka Gunathilaka found not guilty in sexual assault trial – ESPNcricinfo
Danushka Gunathilaka had been arrested last November following Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup campaign • ICC via Getty Images
Ashton Agar ruled out of World Cup, creates fresh selection dilemma for Australia – Fox Sports
Ashton Agar has reportedly been ruled out of the upcoming World Cup in India with a calf injury.
As first revealed by The Daily Telegraph, Agar has not recovered from the injury that ruled him out if the recent T20 series against South Africa.
The West Australian, named in Australias provisional World Cup squad earlier this month, returned home after one match against the Proteas for the birth of his first child, subsequently missing this weeks ODI series against India.
However, the left-armer tweaker is not expected to join the Australian white-ball squad in India, with Tanveer Sangha looming as his potential replacement, along with Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Short.
Australia is expected to announce its finalised 15-player World Cup squad on Thursday afternoon.
Watch every match of The ICC Mens Cricket World Cup Live on Kayo Sports. Join now and start streaming instantly >
Ashton Agar of Australia. Photo by Charle Lombard/Gallo Images/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
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Meanwhile, national selectors are facing a dilemma on whether to carry an injured Travis Head through the first leg of the World Cup.
The South Australian, who suffered a fractured hand during the fourth ODI against South Africa, is not expected to recover until late October at the earliest.
If selectors decided to cut Head from the finalised 15-player squad, he could not be added back in unless there was an injury. However, Head cant be replaced with another player if they decide to carry him in the squad until he recovers.
Australias World Cup opener will be against host nation India at Chennais MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, October 8.
ODI World Cup 2023: Aakash Chopra reveals his XI for India’s opening clash against Australia – Cricket Times
Cricket enthusiasts and fans worldwide are eagerly awaiting the ODI World Cup 2023, set to be played in India from October 5 to November 19. Ahead of the start of the tournament, many experts have revealed their picks and predictions regarding the potential winners and team combinations.
Following the bandwagon, Aakash Chopra, a renowned cricket commentator and former Indian cricketer, recently unveiled his dream XI for the highly anticipated clash between India and Australia in the ODI World Cup.
Chopra selected his XI during the recently-concluded India vs Australia third ODI in Rajkot at Jio Cinema. Notably, India, being the hosts, will begin their campaign against the Aussies on October 8 at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Opening Pair: Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill
In the world of limited-overs cricket, a strong opening partnership is often the key to a team’s success. Chopra has opted for the dynamic duo of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill as India’s openers for the crucial clash against Australia.
Rohit, known for his impeccable timing and ability to play the long innings, will be the anchor at the top of the order. Shubman, a young and exciting talent, brings enthusiasm, aggression, and the ability to accelerate when needed.
Virat Kohli to lead the middle order
No cricketing discussion about India’s ODI squad is complete without the mention of superstar Virat Kohli. Chopra, in alignment with popular sentiment, has included Kohli in his XI. Kohli’s ability to chase down targets and build innings is well-documented, making him an invaluable asset for the team.
Chopra’s selection showcased a robust middle order with KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya. Rahul, the wicketkeeper-batter, is known for his versatility in various batting positions, while Pandya brings the firepower and finishing skills required in modern-day cricket.
The cricketer-turned-commentator has added an exciting twist to the batting lineup by including Suryakumar Yadav down the order. Suryas recent performances have impressed many, and he has the ability to play aggressive strokes and innovate in crunch situations.
Kuldeep to spearhead spin department
In the spin department, Chopra suggested the inclusion of the ever-reliable Ravindra Jadeja, who can contribute with both bat and ball. Additionally, he left room for flexibility by choosing between Washington Sundarand Axar Patel based on the conditions.
Further, Kuldeep Yadav, was chosen as the specialist spinner. The wrist-spin maestro has the ability to turn the ball both ways and deceive batters, which is a valuable asset in the middle overs. More importantly, in the recent few clashes, Rohit has event tried Kuldeep in the death overs, which means that India are exploring the option of giving the chinaman a chance to perform in the death.
Pace Battery: Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj
Chopra’s selection for the pace department included two fiery pacers – Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Bumrah’s accuracy and ability to bowl yorkers at will make him a potent weapon in the death overs, while Siraj’s ability to generate pace and seam movement can trouble any batting lineup. Both pacers have been super impressive with their consistency in the 50-over format and will act as a crucial asset for Team India.
The countdown to the ODI World Cup 2023 has begun, and cricket aficionados worldwide are gearing up for a thrilling spectacle that promises to deliver unforgettable moments, fierce rivalries, and, of course, a champion team. As fans, let’s relish the anticipation and look forward to the cricketing extravaganza that lies ahead.
Aakash Chopra’s India XI for Australia clash in ODI World Cup 2023:
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar/Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Skipper flies home in blow for South Africa’s World Cup preparations – ICC Cricket
South Africa’s preparations for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup have taken a hit with news that skipper Temba Bavuma will miss the Proteas’ warm-up fixtures for the tournament against Afghanistan and New Zealand.Bavuma is flying home due to family reasons and will miss South Africa’s two vital warm-up matches, with T20I skipper Aiden Markram to fill in as captain in his absence.
South Africa take on Afghanistan in their first warm-up fixture in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, before completing their preparations for the tournament against the Kiwis at the same Greenfield Stadium venue on 2 October.
Their opening match at the World Cup is against Sri Lanka at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi and Bavuma is likely to return in time for this clash.
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Bavuma has been in good form for the Proteas of late, with the experienced opener scoring an unbeaten century against Australia in Bloemfontein earlier this month.
South Africa have already lost key pacers Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala for the tournament due to injury.
Rahul Dravid optimistic after injury returnees shine in ODI World Cup Build-up – Times of India
We know which 15 will do job for us in the upcoming World Cup: Rohit SharmaRohit emphasised that he, along with the team management led by coach Rahul Dravid, has a clear and well-defined understanding of the 15 players who will be representing India in the World Cup. The official announcement of the final squad is expected to be made on Thursday, September 28.