T20 World Cup 2021: India will be under more pressure because they have not played T20 cricket, feels Babar Azam

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam revealed that he had a positive discussion with the going-to-be Pakistan Cricket Board chief and former opener Ramiz Raja, who is set to assume the role after September 13 after PCB’s board of governor assent the move.

“I had a positive discussion with Ramiz [Raja] bhai. He shared his mindset with us and we would carry that forward,” Azam said as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.

He further opened up about the recent squad announcement made by the PCB for the upcoming New Zealand series. “We have picked a balanced squad for New Zealand ODIs. We are facing issues in the middle-order and this series is a good opportunity for players making a comeback to cement their place in the side. There is no pressure of captaincy on me. I try to learn from my mistakes,” he said.

UAE is like our home ground and we will try to give our 100 percent: Babar Azam

Azam further opined on the blockbuster India-Pakistan clash scheduled to be played on October 24 in the T20 World Cup. He stated that lack of match-practice in the shorter format would work against India, as they are currently playing Test cricket and have not played20-overs cricket of late.

“India will be under more pressure, as compared to Pakistan, during the T20 World Cup match as they have not played T20 cricket as a group for quite a while. India are currently playing Test cricket and after that, they will get busy with franchise cricket.”

Azam also said that Pakistan, who have played majority of their cricket in the UAE in the last few years, would feel at home in those conditions. “The UAE is like our home ground and we will try to give our 100 percent on the field,” said Azam.

However, all the teams would have a chance to get acclimatized with the UAE conditions during the second half of the Indian Premier League, which would be played in the gulf country before the T20 World Cup commences. Incidentally, the IPL final is scheduled to be played only two days before the official start of the World Cup this year.