Pakistan team captain Babar Azam with others are seen throughout a follow session forward of their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match towards New Zealand in Bengaluru, on November 3, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AFP
Pakistan have been going by a troublesome World Cup marketing campaign and their Director of Cricket Mickey Arthur on November 3 attributed one a part of the tough trip to the heightened safety around players, largely confining them to the lodge rooms.
Pakistan, who’ve misplaced 4 of their seven matches, must win their remaining two video games, together with the one towards New Zealand in Bengaluru on November 4 and in addition hope that a number of different outcomes go in their favour to remain alive in the semifinal race.
“What has been tough is the fact that we’ve been under a massive amount of security. And to be fair, I found it difficult. It’s almost like we’ve been back in the COVID times, where you were almost secluded to your floor and your team room.
“So a lot in order that their breakfast is in a separate room to everyone else,” said Arthur during the pre-match press meet.
Arthur said the players’ inability to socialise during such a long tournament has made a tough impact on them during the quadrennial showpiece.
“Our boys are used to being on the highway. But after they’re on the highway, they’ve nonetheless been capable of get out and have meals at completely different locations, and get out on their very own accord, and we have not been ready to do that time. That’s been powerful and stifling,” he added.
The tight security cover was expected for the Pakistan team in India, given the history and diplomatic tension between the two nations.
The hotels where the Pakistan contingent stays are on a 24-hour vigil to avoid any untoward incident.
Seeking some time to unwind Pakistan skipper Babar Azam had gone one a long drive last Sunday in Kolkata.
The South African said the team has tried to create some fun spaces within the walls of the hotel rooms but without so much effect as a real-time meeting with the outside world.
“It’s like Groundhog Day. You have breakfast and if it is a non-training day, you are again to your room. We’ve tried to have form of little enjoyable team occasions inside our team room. But there’s solely a lot you possibly can recreate.
“I think the guys have been out three times — we’ve managed to do that with security, get them out to a different restaurant, just to give them a little bit of a taste of the outside world,” he stated.
However, Arthur stated the players have tried their finest to embrace the journey to completely different venues and the expertise wholeheartedly.
“The interesting thing has been that every ground we’ve been to has been a new venue for our players. The players have really embraced that and they’ve enjoyed that fact because they’ve watched IPL on TV and they’ve seen Tests at iconic grounds like Eden Gardens, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai.
“So, for them to play there has been actually thrilling. Of course, it’s the first time they’re taking part in there, so it has taken a little bit bit to get used to the situations,” he added.
