The absence of Pakistan fans at the Narendra Modi Stadium during their World Cup fixture against India has left the Pakistan team management disheartened, and they have not concealed their disappointment and criticism. Team director Mickey Arthur expressed his concern that the event seemed more like a bilateral affair organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) rather than a truly global championship under the International Cricket Council (ICC).
“Look, I’d be lying if I said it did. It didn’t seem like an ICC event to be brutally honest. It seemed like a bilateral series; it seemed like a BCCI event. I didn’t hear Dil Dil Pakistan coming through the microphones too often tonight,” Arthur said after Babar Azam’s side lost to India by seven wickets. He was replying to a question if the presence of a massive 130,000 partisan crowd had an impact on their showing.
“So yes, that does play a role, but I’m not going to use that as an excuse because for us, it was about living the moment, it was about the next ball, and it was about how we were going to combat the Indian players tonight,” the South African said. Specifically asked if such a thing should have been allowed to happen at all, Arthur left the question open-ended. “Look, I don’t think I can comment on that just yet. I don’t want to get fined.”
The absence of Pakistan fans has been a major talking point in the lead-up to the World Cup, and the BCCI has faced considerable criticism for not collaborating with the Government of India to secure travel approvals for Pakistan fans. In fact, there was an unusual delay in visa approvals for Pakistani journalists, and just about half a dozen reporters from Pakistan could come for this match.
Arthur’s views were endorsed by the Pakistan coach too. “Naturally that was going to be the case. We are really sad that our supporters aren’t here; they would love to be here, and I am sure Indian cricket fans would love our supporters here as well. It was certainly unusual in that way, no familiar music for us today. So, it did not feel like a World Cup game, honestly. We didn’t expect anything else. We love the occasion, and we are disappointed that we did not do justice to the occasion or justice to our many fans at home and globally,” Grant Bradburn said.
Arthur did not pull any punches in admitting that Pakistan was the second-best side in the contest. “I thought we were a little bit timid. I did think we could probably have taken on the Indian spinners just a little bit more. It was a wicket that didn’t turn massively, and I thought we needed to put some pressure back. But again, they were building and building nicely. I think we’ve got to realize that there are two ways to always skin a cat. And we’ve had success by taking it deep and then cashing in at the back end. That’s been our style, that’s been our brand, but we didn’t play the Pakistan Way tonight, and that was the disappointing aspect of it for me.”
Arthur also praised the Indian team, stating that he saw finalists in Rohit Sharma’s men and hoped that his side would be there too in the title clash. “This Indian team is a very, very good cricket team. I think they’re very well led by Rahul and Rohit. I think they look good. I think they’ve got all bases covered, and I’m looking forward to meeting them in the final again,” he said.
