Everyone wants Pakistan to defeat India, says Fawad Chaudhry

DUBAI: As the cricketing world gears for the big clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that everyone wants Babar Azam and his men to defeat Virat Kohli’s team.

“We all want Pakistan to defeat India and give [something] to celebrate,” said Fawad in a press conference at the Pakistani consulate in Dubai.

The minister said that tomorrow is a big match and shared that cricket unites everyone in the country.

“The whole country’s hearts are with the national team,” assured Fawad.

The minister said that the Pakistan government wishes to have good ties with India but they do not wish to have that as they do not want to play the national team. The thaw in ties is due to the Modi government in New Delhi, he said, adding that it has also been acknowledged by the international media.

Forget the past in India match, Babar tells Pakistan team

Meanwhile, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam vowed his team will not think about Pakistan’s poor record against arch-rivals India when they meet in a high-octane Twenty20 World Cup match in Dubai on Sunday.

Pakistan have lost all seven World Cup (50 over) clashes against India as well as five games in the Twenty20 World Cup and start as ‘underdogs’.

Exuding confidence, Babar stressed that the past is irrelevant to his players.

“To be honest, what has passed is beyond us,” Babar told a virtual media conference on Saturday, as both nations buzzed in anticipation of a thrilling match.

“We want to use our ability and confidence on the day of the match so that we can get a better result.

“Records are meant to be broken.”

The tickets for the match were sold out within hours of going on sale after the United Arab Emirate government allowed a 70 per cent crowd for the Twenty20 World Cup matches in a relaxation of the Covid-19 restrictions.

The South Asian nuclear rivals have only played in multi-national events like the World Cups and the Champions Trophy as strained relations have stalled bilateral cricket since 2007.

Pakistan did tour India in 2012 for five limited over matches but ties were not fully resumed as the two nations continued to be at loggerheads over multiple issues, with the disputed region of Kashmir and terrorism heading the list.