“India was a different experience…” Babar Azam

Pakistan white-ball skipper Babar Azam has hailed Indian fans and said that he loved his experience in India during ICC ODI World Cup 2023 last year. Babar Azam also revealed that he always speaks to Virat Kohli during India vs Pakistan clashes.

Led by Babar Azam, Pakistan team travelled to India during ODI World Cup 2023 last year. The men-in-green played a total of 10 matches in India. However, the Asian team failed to reach the semi-finals.

Notably, it was after a long time that Pakistan team travelled to Indian soil for ICC tournaments. They last played in India during T20 World Cup 2016. India and Pakistan do not engage in bilateral cricket due to political conflicts between both nations.

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Indian people gave us so much love: Babar Azam

During an appearance on Zalmi TV recently, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam opened up about his stay in India during ODI World Cup last year. He said it was a different experience and hailed Indian fans for their love and support for the Pakistan team.

“I have spoken to people about the playing conditions and all but the welcome we’re given at Hyderabad airport was outstanding,” he said. It was a different experience”, the right-handed batter said.

“It was their love, Indian people gave us so much love, they appreciated our cricket. Even in our practice games, people were cheering for us. The entire stadium in Hyderabad was jam packed. I was not expecting it from India”, he further added.

Babar Azam also revealed he always has a chat with Virat Kohli whenever the two sides face each other. He refrained from telling the exact conversation but termed it fruitful.

“I always try and talk to him (Virat Kohli) whenever we play against each other. I always ask him few questions and he helps me with it”, the 29-year-old said.

“Not only him, I also talk a lot to Steve Smith and Kane Williamson, when we play against Australia and New Zealand, respectively. I had a good chat with Virat Kohli, there are things that we talk about that I can’t share here but it was fruitful,”, added Babar Azam.

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Babar Azam reinstalled as Pakistan skipper in ODIs and T20Is

Interestingly, Azam had quit the captaincy of Pakistan team after ODI World Cup last year after team’s poor show. The men-in-green lost to Afghanistan in the tournament, which came as a big blow to their fans. Pakistan also faced a humiliating defeat against India after getting out for 191 in 1st innings.

Meanwhile, Babar Azam has been reinstated as Pakistan skipper in ODIs and T20Is. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named him the new skipper in both formats, replacing Shaheen Shah Afridi as T20I skipper. However, Shan Masood will continue to lead Pakistan in Tests.

After the ODI World Cup, PCB named Shan Masood as the new Test skipper and Shaheen Afridi as the new T20I captain. However, PCB stripped Afridi from captaincy after Pakistan's miserable 4-1 defeat to New Zealand in a T20I series in January. Pakistan is all set to face New Zealand in a five-match home T20I series starting April 18.

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