Pakistan’s fast-bowler Hasan Ali is determined to end his team’s World Cup drought against arch-rivals India in the Men’s ODI World Cup. Pakistan has yet to secure a victory against India in this prestigious tournament, and Hasan Ali and his team are eager to change that narrative as they prepare for a high-stakes clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
What adds to Pakistan’s enthusiasm is their overall win-loss record over India in the ODI format. Additionally, this match marks the first time that Pakistan and India will face each other in a One Day International (ODI) on Indian soil in over a decade.
Hasan Ali expressed his optimism, stating, “Records are meant to be broken, and we too are looking forward to breaking this jinx of not having beaten India in a 50-over World Cup. While the match is significant for both teams, India might feel the added pressure of playing on their home ground with fervent fans backing them. Such high-stakes contests are always accompanied by pressure, but we are determined to seize early momentum and secure a victory.”
He continued, emphasizing the magnitude of this sporting rivalry, “This is the best sporting rivalry in the world. Many players have spoken about how the entire globe tunes in to watch this match. Our team is excited for this game, and I am personally looking forward to playing at a venue with a fan turnout exceeding 100,000. We are eager to take on this challenge.”
Pakistan’s journey in the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup commenced with a convincing 81-run victory over the Netherlands, followed by a remarkable chase of 345 against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad. Hasan Ali believes that Pakistan’s consecutive victories at the start of the tournament have significantly boosted the team’s confidence leading up to the crucial clash against India.
Efforts like the record-breaking chase against Sri Lanka have raised the morale of the team. Hasan Ali noted, “There were outstanding individual and collective performances against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka. Starting the tournament with back-to-back wins enhances your confidence.”
Hasan Ali’s bowling prowess played a pivotal role in the match against Sri Lanka, where he took 4 wickets for 71 runs in his 10 overs. He attributed his success to picking crucial wickets and strategically employing variations during the later stages of the innings, which helped control the game.
“We knew the pitch was flat and the match would be high-scoring. Sadeera Samarawickrama and Kusal Mendis played aggressively and put us on the back foot. The only way to exert pressure was by taking their wickets. When I returned to bowl my second spell, I adapted my plans according to the field setup. I utilized variations at the right moments, resulting in key wickets, which, in turn, stemmed the run flow. We made a strong comeback in the game by keeping runs in check during the death overs.”
Reflecting on his experience, Hasan Ali acknowledged that playing in high-pressure environments over the years has contributed to his performance against Sri Lanka. “My six to seven years of international cricket experience undoubtedly plays a significant role, particularly in a prestigious tournament like this.”
He added, “As a senior player, there is added pressure in the World Cup. Stepping onto the field always brings a slight nervousness, but as an experienced player, it doesn’t take long to adapt to the situation. I stayed relaxed and focused on executing my plans effectively.”
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-IANS
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