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'It Is Tough Here…', Mohammad Nawaz Highlights Issues with Small Indian Grounds

image-lniwtzl4Mohammad Nawaz celebrating a dismissal [AP]

Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz emphasised the need for discipline among bowlers in India, especially in conditions favouring batters, while acknowledging that spinners could play a significant role as the 2023 World Cup progresses.

Speaking ahead of Pakistan's upcoming match against Sri Lanka, Nawaz, who is playing his first tournament in India, observed that Indian pitches tend to benefit batters with smaller boundaries. 

However, he expressed the team's readiness to adapt to varying conditions, anticipating that as the tournament advances, pitches would offer more assistance to spinners.

"Most of the venues in India are more batting conducive, but the pitches will offer more turn as the tournament will progress. Boundaries are a bit smaller here which is why it is tough here for the bowlers, but we have tried to adjust according to the conditions," said Mohammad Nawaz while speaking to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Digital.

Before the start of the 2023 World Cup, Pakistan's spin bowling department came under scrutiny, with some advocating for the inclusion of Usama Mir as the primary spinner. 

Nevertheless, the team management chose to stick with the established combination of Nawaz and Shadab Khan. In their previous match against the Netherlands, both spinners proved their worth by taking crucial wickets, instilling confidence for the upcoming games.


Nawaz Growing in Confidence

Nawaz, in particular, showcased his skills by maintaining control over the scoring rate and dismissing the vital wicket of Bas de Leede, the top scorer for the Netherlands with 67 runs. Following his strong performance, Nawaz is brimming with confidence and aims to continue delivering for the team in the upcoming matches.

"I have gotten confidence from bowling in the last match and I want to build on it so I can deliver my best according to the team’s requirements,"  added Nawaz.

Pakistan made a remarkable start to their ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign with an impressive 81-run victory over the Netherlands at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Riding on significant contributions from all players, they are now gearing up for their final outing in Hyderabad against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, October 10.