Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan has offered a glimpse into the team’s preparation and strategy for the impending World Cup 2023, set to take place in India this October-November. Speaking to a local cricket analyst, Khan provided insights into Pakistan’s mindset, approach, and aspirations for the upcoming tournament.
Renowned for his all-rounder skills on the cricket field, Khan emphasized the significance of clinching victory in the high-stakes event hosted by India. In his conversation, he remarked:
“Winning the World Cup in India will be like the icing on the cake. Definitely, whichever team comes will come to win the tournament, but the key is how you as a team play and how you start because we will have to play against every team; it’s a great opportunity for all the teams.”
Addressing the distinct challenge of playing without the support of a roaring Pakistani crowd in India, the leg-spinner underscored the importance of mental resilience. He praised his fellow teammates for their robust mental fortitude, expressing confidence in their capacity to surmount this hurdle and excel in the competition. Khan affirmed:
“We won’t have the crowd support in India. In that sense, we’ll have to be very strong mentally. The way our players are, mentally strong, I think we’ll have a good tournament.”
When questioned about the strategy to combat prominent players like Virat Kohli, the 24-year-old offered a pragmatic approach. He revealed that the team’s game plan does not revolve around specific batters. Instead, their strategy centers on delivering precise bowling and capitalizing on the opponents’ mistakes.
Khan succinctly stated:
“There are no specific plans for Virat Kohli. Everyone makes similar plans for opposition batters, which is to bowl in the right areas and hope for the batsman to commit a mistake.”
Shadab Khan has been a terrific allrounder for Pakistan and his insight shed light on Pakistan’s mindset and versatile strategic approach to the ODI World Cup 2023. Pakistan has never defeated India in a World Cup match, currently India leads the head to head encounter with 7-0, so the task to register a victory against India in India for Pakistan will be monumental.
