'Our morale is high, we want to start positively' - Babar Azam ahead of India-Pakistan T20 WC clash

The calendar is marked for the India and Pakistan T20 World Cup 2021 game. The two teams are set to play their first encounter since 2019. This will also be the first T20I between the arch-rivals since the 2016 T20 World Cup. Once again the past records are looming large over their head, but there is a sense of hope. 

The two teams have competed against each other in five T20 World Cup games, with India winning all of them. In the 50 overs World Cup, India has beaten Pakistan seven times, with the streak dating from 1992. The current Pakistan team has some star players like captain Babar Azam, who have given some hope to the nation of Pakistan. 

Ahead of the big match, the Pakistan captain spoke about the game and how his team is approaching the match. “Our morale is high and we want to make a positive start to the tournament by winning the opening game against India. Gaining momentum at the start of the tournament will help in improving the confidence of the team,” Azam was quited as saying by Cricket Pakistan. 

Babar Azam confirms he will open with Mohammad Rizwan

The opening partnership between Babar and Rizwan has been really good in recent times and there are a lot of expectations. The October 24 match between the two sides is getting a lot of hype and the Dubai International Cricket Stadium is expected to be full on the day. Speaking about opening combinations Babar said, “I will open the innings with Rizwan during the World Cup but we can change our plans after looking at the conditions.”

Pakistan has also got back Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez in their team to pack the talented young players with some experience. Malik came in place of Shoaib Maqsood who was unluckily injured after initially being named in the squad for the mega event. “Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik are match-winners and their experience will help us on the field,” he concluded.

Babar Azam was part of the Pakistan team which won the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final in Oval, London beating India. Malik and Hafeez were also part of that team, along with Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, all of whom have been named in the T20 World Cup squad.