Cricket World Cup 2023: India and Pakistan ready for match at 132,000-seater stadium
- Published
The match begins at 09:30 BST on Saturday
ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023: India v Pakistan |
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Venue: Ahmedabad Date: Saturday, 14 October |
Coverage: Live Test Match Special radio and text commentary on every match on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra & BBC Sport website, plus desktop, tablets, mobiles and app. In-play video clips and highlights available to UK users. |
"This is a golden opportunity for us to become heroes."
As Babar Azam grinned and joked his way through Friday's news conference, there was no sign of nerves at the task that awaits.
The Pakistan captain will lead his team out against their greatest rivals India on Saturday.
Babar has done this before, but never in front of 132,000 at the world's largest cricket stadium.
"The fans and the whole of Pakistan-India are waiting for this match," Babar said. "We are also very excited."
This fixture causes the two countries, with their combined population of more than 1.5bn, to stand still. On Saturday the eyes of the entire cricketing world will be on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
A World Cup that has so far somewhat meandered through its first nine days is ready for lift-off.
This latest meeting will be played amid the continued political tensions between the two countries.
Since 2013, Pakistan and India have only played each other in ICC global tournaments such as the World Cup, or in Asia Cup matches at neutral venues.
Last month India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, instead playing their games in Sri Lanka.
The tensions mean few, if any, Pakistan fans will be in Ahmedabad for Saturday's match because of trouble in obtaining visas.
There was one Pakistani journalist at Babar's news conference.
But with the tide firmly against them, Pakistan are bidding to put to bed the statistic that bothers them most.
They have met India seven times at the 50-over World Cup. Saturday's hosts have won all seven, including the 2011 semi-final in Mohali as India went on to win the title.
"I don't focus on the past," said Babar. "I try to focus on the future. Such records are made to be broken and I try to break them."
India, meanwhile, are the strong tournament favourites. They survived a wobble to beat Australia in their opening game before sweeping aside Afghanistan on Wednesday.
Pakistan completed the record chase in a World Cup to beat Sri Lanka after comfortably seeing off the Netherlands in their opener.
India captain Rohit Sharma said the expectant crowd will not create added pressure on his side in such a high-profile game.
"I don't think there is any disadvantage," said Rohit. "You feel nice about playing in front of your home crowd.
"They get behind you no matter what the situation of the game is. My overall experience playing, not just in India, even outside India, is we get massive support.
"I have so far never experienced where the crowd has gone against us."
Both sides trained amid a security presence on Friday, the streets outside the ground already bustling with excitement.
India were boosted by the appearance of opener Shubman Gill, who missed their opening two games after being hospitalised with illness. Rohit said Gill is "99%" available.
The possible return of Gill, who has scored four one-day international hundreds, including a double ton, this year, only makes Pakistan's task harder, as cricket's greatest rivals prepare for their biggest night.