The secretary of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Jay Shah, extended a warm welcome to the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee, Zaka Ashraf, ahead of the latter’s tour of India during the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023.
Ashraf, who will be traveling to India today on the invitation of BCCI, will support the Pakistan team during his trip to the neighbouring country.
“I find it essential to show my unwavering support for our team on this grand stage. The players have put in immense hard work and dedication to reach this point, and I am confident that they will give their best to make us proud,” Ashraf said.
Earlier today, Shah expressed that he was happy to see Ashraf visit India during a telephonic conversation.
Shah further extended his hospitality by offering to facilitate him by arranging his meetings with other high-ranking officials during his stay in India.
“We both discussed how the forthcoming match is an opportunity to explore ways in which we can further enhance and promote the cricketing relations between our countries,” concluded Ashraf.
Ashraf made the decision to travel to India after it was confirmed that the Pakistan media personnel were given the go ahead to submit their passports for an Indian visa to cover the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023.
It must be noted that Pakistan carried on to their impeccable form and registered a historic win against Sri Lanka in the eighth match of the ICC World Cup 2023 on Tuesday. This was Pakistan’s second win in as many matches during the event.
The Men in Green pipped Ireland to claim the record of the highest-ever run chase in the history of ODI World Cups.
Chasing the target of 345 runs, the Men in Green met with early blows as they had lost their top-order batters, Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam, in just 7.1 overs and were 37-2 but the match-winning partnership between Mohammad Rizwan and the World Cup debutant, Abdullah Shafique, changed the fortunes of the struggling Pakistani side.
The 176-run stand between the two batters provided their side the much-needed break and got them in a dominating position once again.
Abdullah walked back to the pavilion after scoring 113 off 103 courtesy of 10 fours and three sixes but Rizwan stayed till the end and took his side over the line by scoring 131 runs — Pakistan’s second-highest individual score in the World Cup overtaking Ramiz Raja’s 119 against New Zealand in 1992.
The astounding win will be a great confidence booster for the Pakistani side who play the arch-rivals India in the most-anticipated match of the World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on October 14.
