Ahead of the much-anticipated ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, the Pakistan skipper, Babar Azam, light-heartedly addressed the "ticket pressure" during a pre-match press conference. The iconic encounter is set to electrify the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday, October 14.
When probed about the tension leading up to such a significant clash, Azam amusingly responded about the immense demand for tickets. Historically, India has dominated their meetings in the ODI World Cup, boasting an impressive 7-0 record against Pakistan since their first face-off in 1992.
"There's a lot of pressure for tickets. A lot of people always call for tickets for such matches. We don't take external pressure. We hadn't been able to execute of plans but we changed that in 2017 against India. This also had not happened before but we did it. That is what we believe in that we can do it tomorrow and we'll go in with all the confidence," said Azam.
Azam also underscored the strategic importance of the toss in the upcoming match, emphasizing that the pitch's behavior noticeably shifts during night play. This game marks the debut for both cricketing giants at the Narendra Modi Stadium for this World Cup edition.
"In all the matches that we've seen here, toss is vital. Under the lights, the pitch behaves differently, there was a bit of dew. Last night there was dew," Azam added.
Further addressing media speculations, Azam dismissed concerns over his captaincy's security. He confidently stated that his position wasn't earned from a single match, nor would it be jeopardized by one. The Pakistan team enters this contest on a high note, having triumphed in both of their initial 2023 World Cup matches, securing wins over the Netherlands and Sri Lanka, both in Hyderabad.
"I never think that my captaincy would go away because of this match. I'll do what I can. I haven't got the captaincy because of one match and it won't go away with one. We'll try to play the way we did in 2019. We will try to execute our plans and enjoy the match," said Azam.
The stage is set for a monumental showdown in Ahmedabad, with India aiming to uphold their flawless World Cup record against a confident Pakistan side. The match promises to be not just a cricketing spectacle but also a celebration of the sport's rich legacy and the intense rivalry between the two cricketing giants.
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