Ahead of the ICC World Cup 2023, Pakistan's vice-captain Shadab Khan displayed his witty side. When queried about the Pakistani team indulging in the renowned Indian delicacy, Hyderabadi biriyani, Shadab humorously remarked that the players' pace might have slowed down due to their daily indulgence in the dish.
"We are eating it daily, and perhaps that is why we are getting a bit slow (laughs)," Shadab was quoted as saying.
Coming into the World Cup, Pakistan's form is under scrutiny after they faced defeats in both their warm-up matches against formidable opponents New Zealand and Australia. In both encounters, Pakistan showcased their batting prowess, setting scores north of 300, yet failed to clinch the win.
During the face-off against Australia, Pakistan, chasing a hefty target of 352, were dismissed at 337 with 2.2 overs remaining. The team witnessed commendable performances with Babar Azam leading the charge scoring 90, followed by Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz contributing 83 and 50 respectively. Towards the end, Hasan Ali and Usama Mir raised hopes of a close finish. However, Marnus Labuschagne's crucial breakthrough, claiming Ali's wicket, ensured Australia's victory.
Despite these setbacks, Shadab showcased optimism and lauded the team's spirit. He emphasized that he was pleased with the players' attitude and approach.
"Result is not important. We took a lot of positives. Our attitude was good, result not in our hands. I think our 11 is sorted, we just wanted to give time to the bench to show their skills. When you play against Australia and New Zealand, you get confidence. We got a little bit experience of conditions (in Hyderabad)," he added.
Pakistan is gearing up for their inaugural match against the Netherlands, led by Scott Edwards, on Friday, October 6. The match is set to unfold at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. With the tournament's commencement around the corner, fans and enthusiasts are eagerly waiting to see if Pakistan can turn their fortunes and showcase their championship pedigree.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
More questions than answers for Pakistan in warm-up games as Haris Rauf concedes 97 runs in 9 overs
'Pakistan & fielding never ending love story': Shikhar Dhawan trolls Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr. for hilarious faux pas
