Pakistan players may be banned from competing in the Indian Premier League, but television images of the lucrative tournament influenced the team’s first World Cup victory.
Of Pakistan’s 15 players, only all-rounders Mohammad Nawaz and Agha Salman had visited the country before this World Cup.
Nawaz was part of the team that played in the 2016 World Twenty20, while Salman featured for the Lahore Lions in the 2014 T20 Champions League.
Current captain and star batsman Babar Azam was initially named in the 2016 T20 squad but withdrew due to injury.
“We have come to India for the first time, so we don’t have much idea of playing there,” admitted Saud Shakeel, player of the match when Pakistan defeated Netherlands in Hyderabad on Friday.
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“But we have watched a bit of the IPL and some matches in Hyderabad, so that helped.”
Shakeel certainly had little trouble adjusting to his new surroundings with an excellent 68 in the 81-run win that helped Pakistan beat the Dutch.
Mohammad Rizwan also made 68 in a 120-run stand after Pakistan reeled at 38-3 at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad.
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Pakistan openers Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-haq fell for 12 and 15 respectively, while Azam managed just five off 18 balls.
“The tournament has just started and we are playing in Hyderabad,” Shakeel said.
“Everyone knows the ball stops early here on this pitch. There are chances of losing a wicket.”
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Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka on Tuesday, also in Hyderabad, before their much-anticipated clash against arch-rivals India in Ahmedabad on October 14.
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