It’s been all rush-rush, but familiarity with conditions, at least as far as surfaces go, should help. “It will make a difference, no doubt,” Babar said at a pre-World Cup press interaction. “The way we played the triangular series in New Zealand, it has helped a lot. The boys are confident, and we will try to carry the momentum into the World Cup.”
“We have six days before the first game and two practice games, we will utilise the two practice games and make sure that Shaheen, especially the way he has come back, he is fully fit and fully dedicated to play”
“The middle order has stepped up in the last two matches,” Babar agreed. “When you get such performances right before the World Cup, you gain a lot of confidence as a team, and I believe our middle order will perform. We are backing them. The way Ifti [Iftikhar] and especially Nawaz, and before that Shadab [Khan] played, the middle order is chipping in. And these are good signs for us before the World Cup.”
“Our fast-bowling lot is very strong, and it will even be strengthened with Shaheen’s return [from a knee injury],” Babar said. “Our bench strength has been bowling well. We have bowled with different combinations over the last few matches, and they have performed.
“The way Haris has improved his bowling day-by-day in the death and with the new ball… it is an opportunity for the fast bowlers to show that we have skills and have different players for different combinations.”
“We have six days before the first game and two practice games, we will utilise the two practice games and make sure that Shaheen, especially the way he has come back, he is fully fit and fully dedicated to play,” Babar said. “He gives his 100% effort every time, and looking forward to see him play.”