Former Pakistan cricketer, Shahid Afridi has spoken out about concerns over the upcoming Pakistan and India cricket match, which is scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad in October 2023. Speaking on a local news channel, Afridi questioned why there were concerns about playing on the Ahmedabad pitch, and suggested that the Pakistan team should go into the match with a positive attitude.
His comments come after it was reported that Pakistan Cricket Board management committee chairman, Najam Sethi, advised the ICC that Pakistan would not want its matches scheduled in Ahmedabad unless it was a knock-out game. Instead, the PCB suggested the matches should be scheduled in Chennai, Bengaluru, or Kolkata.
However, India and Pakistan have finally agreed on a hybrid model for Asia Cup 2023 and Pakistan has decided not to withdraw from the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, ending weeks of speculation.
With the Pakistan-India match scheduled to take place at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, in Ahmedabad, there have been concerns expressed by Pakistani fans and cricket communities. Afridi has called for the Pakistan team to embrace the challenge and secure a victory in front of a packed Indian crowd.
Afridi dismissed any suggestions of the pitch being possessed by supernatural powers and said the only way to overcome the challenges is to secure a comprehensive victory. He went on to add that winning is the crucial factor, and that is what matters at the end of the day.
The match between Pakistan and India is expected to be one of the highlights of the sporting calendar for 2023. While both teams will undoubtedly be competitive and determined to win, Afridi’s comments suggest that Pakistan will need to approach the match with a positive attitude if they want to emerge victorious.
