Players’ Night Out: Pakistan cricket squad chills at Hyderabad restaurant, poses with fans for selfies
During the course of their stay, the cricketers seemed to be in a relaxed mood and signed autographs and posed for selfies with fans and the restaurant staff.
By Sulogna Mehta Published on 2 Oct 2023 11:32 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Amidst the ongoing ICC-2023 Cricket World Cup warm-up matches, the players from the Pakistan cricket team took time to dine at a restaurant in the city on Sunday evening and posed for selfies with fans.
Setting aside all political bitterness, the city residents showed no dearth of hospitality and warmth towards the guests in a country which believes in Athithi Devo Bhava (the guest is equivalent to God).
Since the practice matches at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium are out of bounds for spectators, the cricket lovers were happy to spend time with the Pakistan cricket team in person. Video clippings from Pakistan Cricket Board’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle showed the cricketers and coaches arriving in a team bus at the Jewel of Nizam–The Minar restaurant in Gandipet. They were welcomed with flowers and garlands by the staff, followed by a lavish dinner. During the course of their stay, the cricketers seemed to be in a relaxed mood and signed autographs and posed for selfies with fans and the restaurant staff.
Netizens took to X to comment on the video clips of the cricketers dining out. Some posted in a light-hearted manner that the ‘team in green’ should not just enjoy biryani but also focus on the games. Pakistani fans also commended the hospitality and delectable Hyderabadi cuisine. “Thank you India for your hospitality,” wrote M Asif Shahzad.
On September 27, the Pakistan cricket team led by their captain Babar Azam landed in the city amid tight security. They were given a grand welcome at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. Thousands of cricket lovers and fans thronged the venue to catch a glimpse of the cricketers.
The players praised the gesture and reception given to them in India on their respective social media accounts. Babar Azam posted a picture of their welcome on his social media and wrote, “Overwhelmed with the love and support here in Hyderabad.”
Hyderabad to host three world cup matches
Already, one warm-up match against New Zealand had been played by Pakistan on September 29. Their other warm-up match against Australia is slated to be held on October 3. Hyderabad will host three World Cup matches, within the first week of the tourney.
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will be starting on October 5, where teams from 10 countries are participating. The finals are scheduled to be held on November 19. The opening match is supposed to be held at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which will also host the India versus Pakistan match on October 14 and the final match.
Other matches are slated to be held at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, HPCA Stadium at Dharamasala, Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, Eden Gardens, Kolkata, BRSABVE Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, MCA International Stadium, Pune and Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
