In anticipation of the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023, all ten captains of the participating teams came together for a special media event held in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. The event served as a prelude to the much-anticipated tournament opener, where England will face New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium on October 5.
The event saw the presence of captains including Pakistan’s Babar Azam, India’s Rohit Sharma, England’s Jos Buttler, New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, and Australia’s Pat Cummins, among others.
During the media interaction, Babar Azam, who sat alongside England’s Jos Buttler, fielded various questions from journalists. The 28-year-old captain shared his thoughts on Pakistan’s preparations for the tournament.
“We were welcomed nicely in India,” Azam remarked. “The hospitality in India has been excellent, and we feel like we are at home. This group of players has been playing together for the last three years, and our strength lies in our bowling. We are giving our 100% and working hard every day. There will be no pressure of playing in India as the conditions are similar to Pakistan.”
Azam also expressed that the team is enjoying their time in Hyderabad, India, but it would have been even better if Pakistani fans could be present. “We are enjoying in Hyderabad. It feels good to be here in India, but it could have been a lot better if our fans were here,” he added.
Hyderabadi Biryani became a topic of discussion among Pakistani cricketers and Indian journalists after Shadab Khan humorously suggested that the Men in Green performed poorly against Australia in a warm-up match because they had indulged in too much Biryani. When asked about it during the event, Babar responded, “We heard so much about Hyderabad’s Biryani, and it was good.”
Eoin Morgan, the captain who led England to victory in the 2019 World Cup, joined the stage and praised Jos Buttler, saying he is a great skipper.
Rohit Sharma expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to lead the Indian team in a major event, stating, “I feel fortunate that I will captain the Indian team in the World Cup. I am not thinking about the past, where the home side won the tournament.”
Pat Cummins noted that the ODI format suits Australia and that they aim to continue their strong form.
Bangladesh’s captain, Shakib Al Hasan, promised to fulfill the fans’ expectations as the team is well-prepared.
Meanwhile, Kane Williamson, who is recovering from a knee injury and won’t feature in New Zealand’s tournament opener, expressed his readiness to lead his side in the mega event once again.
The Captain’s Day event provided fans with a glimpse of the captains’ perspectives and enthusiasm as they gear up for the ICC World Cup 2023.
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