'If We Lose To India...'- Shadab Khan Talks About Indo-Pak Encounter

image-ljh8f02hIndia and Pakistan last played each other in T20 World Cup 2022 (Twitter)

Pakistan wrist-spin bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan has downplayed the importance of Indo-Pak fixture, stating that his team will be more focused on winning the World Cup rather than the encounter against their arch-rivals later this year.

India and Pakistan will square off in a blockbuster clash in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. The encounter will take place in front of 100,000+ fans at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Pakistan have never been able to beat India in a 50-over World Cup game, losing 7 in as many opportunities between 1992-2019.

The Babar Azam-led unit will be desperate to break the jinx this October, just like they did at the T20 World Cup two years ago.

Speaking to Cricket Pakistan, Shadab acknowledged the pressure of expectations that an Indo-Pak match brings, but he also asserted that his team will be more focused to win the Cup rather than just winning against the Men in Blue.

"Playing against India comes with a different sense of joy. The pressure overall is also different. Now when we have to go there, it will be their home ground - the crowd will be against us," Shadab told Cricket Pakistan.

"However, we are going there to play in the World Cup, so we should think about it, and not only about India, because if we win against India and lose the World Cup, then there's no benefit of it. In my opinion, even if we lose from India but end up winning the World Cup, it's a win-win because that is our main aim."

Pakistan will open their 2023 World Cup campaign against Qualifier 01 in Hyderabad on October 06.