Pakistan skipper, Babar Azam, received a warm welcome from fans at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad during their ICC Cricket World Cup match against the Netherlands. Despite not delivering an exceptional performance with the bat, Azam’s popularity remained intact as fans chanted his name during the game.
A video circulating on social media captured the moment when the chants could be heard in the stadium. Showing his appreciation for the support, Azam responded by putting a hand around his ear, acknowledging the fans.
After the match, Azam expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support the team received in Hyderabad. “The way Hyderabad supports us, we are very happy. Our team is enjoying the hospitality. Pretty satisfied, credit to the bowlers, the way they started well and took wickets in the middle overs. We lost three wickets, but the way Rizwan and Saud batted, they put pressure on the Netherlands. Saud built his innings and played well. He has improved a lot. Our bowlers also performed exceptionally well, sticking to our plans. Haris bowled quick and took wickets,” said Azam.
Saud Shakeel, who scored a crucial 68 runs off 52 balls after the top three batters fell early in the game, was named the player of the match for his outstanding performance. Reflecting on his innings, Shakeel said, “I tried to be positive and score runs for the team. Although there were nerves since we lost three wickets early, I was fortunate enough to get early boundaries. We knew that the pressure would shift back to the Netherlands if we made a good start. Over the past few months, I have been working hard, knowing that I would bat at number 5 for Pakistan. I have been developing my shots accordingly, including sweeps and reverse sweeps. I would also like to thank the crowd for their support and my coach for guiding me.”
The victory against the Netherlands earned Pakistan 2 points in their opening match of the tournament.