Mohammad Azharuddin Fires Shots At Jay Shah For Not Allocating India vs Pakistan Match To Hyderabad

Former captain Mohammad Azharuddin has said Team India will be under pressure during the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023. Having co-hosted the ODI World Cup thrice in the past, India are gearing up to host the World Cup alone for the first time.

Team India are one of the favorites to win the competition. The Rohit Sharma-led side will be under immense pressure to win the tournament. The team has faced severe criticism in recent years for their failures to win ICC competitions. India have not won the World Cup since 2011 their last ICC title came in 2013.

Playing at home will only add to the pressure. The last three editions of the ODI World Cup were won by the home teams and India will be desperately hoping to continue the trend. And while only time will tell whether India manage to win the World Cup or not, Mohammad Azharuddin has said that the team will be under pressure.

“It is going to be a very competitive World Cup. India have a very good team. Grounds will be full as India are hosting after a long time.

“I really don’t understand this peaking business. When you are playing you are playing well, doesn’t matter whether you are peaking or not peaking,” Mohammad Azharuddin told the Times of India when asked whether India are peaking at the right time.

“Sometimes you lose two three matches even after peaking and that has happened with this team. Rather than thinking about all of this, one should focus on the game, rather than thinking about semis and finals straightaway.

“Yes, there will be a lot of pressure to win an ICC tournament which we have not won for a long time. I am sure the boys are fully aware of that,” he added.

Mohammad Azharuddin disappointed:

Mohammad Azharuddin, who is also the former president of the Hyderabad Cricket Association, expressed his disappointment over Hyderabad not being allotted an India match during the World Cup. Hyderabad is one of the ten venues selected to stage the World Cup games.

“I would be happy if India were playing in Hyderabad. The matter should have been discussed with the BCCI. I don’t know what happened there. Hyderabad also deserved a big game like India and Pakistan,” said Mohammad Azharuddin.

The World Cup is scheduled to be played from October 5 to November 9. Hyderabad will host its first game on October 6 when Pakistan lock horns against Netherlands.