World Cup: Row over Pakistan team getting a warm welcome in Ahmedabad

The famed Indian hospitality was at its best once again in Ahmedabad on Thursday (October 12) as the Pakistan squad received a grand welcome at the team hotel following an in-flight celebration, ahead of their marquee World Cup 2023 game against arch-rivals India.

Upon their arrival at the hotel in Ahmedabad, Pakistan players received a warm welcome with a shower of flower petals and balloons, traditional scarves, the sound of dhols combined with a dance performance. It followed a cake-cutting ceremony organized by the carrier's cabin crew that flew them into Ahmedabad from Hyderabad.

However, on social media, many questioned the warm welcome given to Pakistani players. They slammed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and its secretary Jay Shah. On X, Jay Shah was trending with BCCI and Ahmedabad. Some of the videos of the welcome shared by users on X were taken down due to "copyright violation".

Delighted at the reception its players received, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) posted a video on X, capturing the moments.

"Touchdown Ahmedabad. Capturing the journey, featuring a surprise in-flight celebration," the PCB captioned the video.

Tight security has been put in place for the high-profile match to be played on Saturday.

The city had been turned into a fortress and it will be secured by more than 11,000 members of the Gujarat police, National Security Guard (NSG), Rapid Action Force (RAF) and home guards.

Pakistan were based in Hyderabad since their arrival in India after a gap of seven years, playing four games including two warm-up clashes and continued to receive a lot of attention from fans and the media.

The Babar Azam-led side felt being 'at home' in Hyderabad as a large crowd in support of the neighbours turned up at the airport on September 27, and particularly for their last match at the stadium in Uppal against Sri Lanka.

Pakistan are coming into the match after a comprehensive win over Sri Lanka in which they pulled off the highest run chase in the history of World Cup.

Batting second in Hyderabad, Pakistan were set a daunting target of 345 by Sri Lanka after centuries from Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama.

However, the Pakistan team chased it down with six wickets in hand, courtesy of blazing tons by Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan.

The hosts India, too, will enter the contest on the back of two comfortable victories against Australia and Afghanistan.

(With agency inputs)