Pakistan's wicket-keeper and batter, Mohammad Rizwan, expressed his delight at the warm welcome they received from the Indian crowd, comparing it to the reception they would receive back home. Rizwan, a right-handed batter, took great pride in his century during the warm-up match against New Zealand in Hyderabad on Friday, emphasizing the importance of communication during his partnership with Babar Azam.
The Pakistan cricket team was greeted with an extraordinary reception upon their arrival in Hyderabad on Wednesday, September 27th, ahead of the highly anticipated tournament. Players such as Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Rizwan were amazed by the enthusiasm and excitement displayed by the fans, as evident from their posts on official social media platforms.
"A hundred is a hundred, proud and happy of it. Scoring a century for Pakistan is always special. The Indian crowd gave us a lot of love at the airport itself, just like how our fans love us back in Pakistan. We were welcomed in India in a great way.
"Whenever we meet Indian people anywhere in the world, they always welcome us and talk to us nicely.
"When we came to Hyderabad, we got goosebumps seeing the reception of the crowd. It felt like we're in Karachi or Lahore," Rizwan said.
The 31-year-old also showered praise on Saud Shakeel for his impressive performance, scoring 75 runs off just 53 balls.
"In T20Is I open for Pakistan, in Tests I bat at 6-7 and in ODIs I bat at number 4, I play according to the team requirements. Saud Shakeel is in great form and he played a classy knock today.
"Hopefully he turns out to be a great player in the ODI format as well. I and Babar try to rotate the strike, we bat similarly, our communication is good and that helps us."
Despite posting a commendable total of 345 runs after choosing to bat first, Pakistan found themselves unable to withstand the relentless assault from the New Zealand team, who ultimately emerged victorious with five wickets to spare. In a remarkable display of skill and determination, Rachin Ravindra, who was promoted up the batting order, emerged as the top scorer with an impressive 97 runs. Additionally, the returning Kane Williamson made a significant contribution with a well-deserved half-century before retiring out.
However, it was the combined efforts of James Neesham, Mark Chapman, and Daryl Mitchell that truly sealed the deal for the Black Caps. With their exceptional batting prowess, Chapman and Mitchell also achieved half-centuries, solidifying New Zealand's dominance as they clinched the victory with 38 balls remaining and five wickets in hand.
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