HYDERABAD: Pakistan had a perfect start to their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign with a thumping 81-run win over the Netherlands at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium thanks to some outstanding performances.
Pakistan plays Sri Lanka tomorrow in what will be their final outing in Hyderabad in this tournament, and are eager to leave the city with two wins in two matches. Speaking to PCB Digital ahead of the contest, Nawaz, said, “It is very important to start a big tournament on a positive note and that is what we were looking for.”
“We have played two practice matches here and our tournament opener in Hyderabad. It all, however, boils down to playing good cricket on the day and executing your skills perfectly. We are hopeful of carrying the momentum that we have gained by beating the Netherlands and finishing the Hyderabad leg with a win.”
That Pakistan was able to set a defendable score after initial dismissals was because of some brilliant rearguard partnerships in the middle and lower-middle order. While reflecting on those partnerships and Saud’s incredible half-century, Nawaz said, “It was an outstanding partnership between Rizwan and Saud Shakeel considering the circumstances it came in. Saud played some brilliant counterattacking cricket after going in at 40 for three [38 for three] and it gave us a good stand.
Nawaz also shares the notion that the bowlers will need to be disciplined here in India to get rewards in conditions which are largely tilted towards the batters, but he feels that the spinners will have a role to play as the tournament goes on.
“Most of the venues in India are more batting conducive, but the pitches will offer more turn as the tournament will progress,” he said. “Boundaries are a bit smaller here which is why it is tough here for the bowlers, but we have tried to adjust according to the conditions … I have gotten confidence from bowling in the last match and I want to build on it so I can deliver my best according to the team’s requirements.”
Though Pakistan enjoy an impeccable record against Sri Lanka in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup since 1975 defeating them on all seven occasions, the Islanders have recently outdone them. They lost a last-ball thriller in Colombo in the One-Day iteration of the Asia Cup last month and faced back-to-back defeats in the tournament’s T20 edition last year, with the last of the two matches being the final.
