Mickey Arthur, the team director of Pakistan, shared his thoughts on the atmosphere at the World Cup match in Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. He noted that the overwhelming presence of Indian fans made it feel more like a home game for India, resembling a bilateral series or an event hosted by the BCCI rather than a typical ICC tournament.
Arthur stated, “Honestly, the atmosphere tonight didn’t feel like an ICC event. It felt more like a bilateral series or a BCCI-hosted event. The chants of ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’ weren’t as prominent as I expected. While this can affect the game, I won’t use it as an excuse.”
He expressed disappointment in Pakistan’s performance, especially their inability to capitalize on a promising start. Pakistan went from 155/2 to being bowled out for 191, while India comfortably chased the target.
“I think our overall performance today was somewhat timid. I would have preferred to see us take a more aggressive approach. It’s a significant occasion, but we seemed to retreat a bit. Going from 155/2 to 191 all out is unacceptable,” Arthur added.
Arthur also praised the Indian team for their impressive performance, acknowledging strong leadership from KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma.
“This Indian team is highly competent. I believe they are well-led by Rahul and Rohit. They appear to be in excellent form and have a well-rounded squad,” he remarked.
