‘India pehle semi final to pahuche’ – Fans react as Mishab-ul-Haq predicts an India-Pakistan World Cup 2023 final

Amid reports that Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium will host the blockbuster India vs Pakistan match on October 15 in the ODI World Cup later this year, former Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq has predicted that the marquee event’s final will be also between the arch-rivals. The 50-over major tournament, hosted by India, is slated to begin on October 5 with England taking on New Zealand in the opener.

The venue and date of the India-Pakistan World Cup 2023 match have been rumoured for several months now, with no official announcement yet. However, as per a report by ESPNCricinfo, a draft schedule was shared by the Indian Cricket Board to the Cricket Governing Body, who then sent it to the participating countries for feedback. The governing body is expected to release the complete schedule in the coming days.

The last time India and Pakistan met in the 20-20 World Cup, India won by four wickets in a thrilling last-ball encounter thanks to former Indian captain Virat Kohli’s scintillating 82*. India avenged their loss to Pakistan in the 2021 T20 WC and the cricketing world is waiting to once again witness the high-voltage clash between the two fiercest rivals in the history of the sport.

We will be trying to do something different: Rohit Sharma on India’s approach for WC after WTC final loss

Meanwhile, India will be coming off after a humiliating defeat in the World Test Championship 2023 final against Australia. However, addressing the media after the loss, Indian captain Rohit Sharma has said that the team will be going to play with a different mindset altogether in the upcoming ODI World Cup.

“When the World Cup will be held in October, we will try to play in a different way. We will try to give people freedom and not think that we have to win this or that match. We have been thinking that this match is important, this event is important and things are not happening. So obviously, we will have to think differently and do things differently. Our message and focus will be on trying to do something different,” Rohit said.

Here’s how fans reacted to Misbah-ul-Haq’s statement: