Quick bowler Hasan Ali believes the fever that has unfold by way of the Pakistan group on the World Cup has been brought on by being largely confined to their resort.
“We are able to’t exit a lot. If we do need to exit, now we have to go together with a complete safety group,” mentioned Hasan on Thursday.
Pakistan are on their first go to to India in seven years whereas solely two of the 15-man squad had ever performed within the nation earlier than this World Cup.
The tense political and diplomatic relationship between the 2 neighbours signifies that Pakistan and India meet solely in worldwide cricket tournaments, not bilateral occasions.
Pakistan’s participation within the World Cup had hinged on safety clearance from Islamabad and even when it was given, the federal government mentioned it nonetheless had severe reservations over safety for the group.
Visas for the Pakistan squad had been solely issued two days earlier than their departure.
“The hospitality is sweet and we’re taken excellent care of, however we can’t go exterior and now we have to inform the safety earlier than going out as a result of safety is a matter,” added 29-year-old Hasan, who has an Indian spouse.
Requested in regards to the 13 match gamers obtainable for Friday’s sport in opposition to Australia, Hasan replied: “Sure, many of the gamers have recovered from fever however while you reside in a resort room then room illness occurs.”
Six Pakistan gamers — Abdullah Shafique, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Agha Salman in addition to reserves Mohammad Haris and Zaman Khan — had been laid low with flu and fever on Tuesday.
Pakistan supporters from throughout the border have been successfully banned from the World Cup after a failure to realize visas.
Solely a handful attended the high-profile conflict with India at Ahmedabad’s 132,000-seater stadium, largely expatriates from the USA and the UK.
“The variety of followers has elevated and with journalists, they’re now about 45-47. Sure, we’re lacking our followers however that isn’t in our arms,” mentioned Hasan, who’s Pakistan’s main wicket-taker at this World Cup with seven.
The Pakistan group confronted a hostile crowd in Ahmedabad, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to lodge a criticism with the Worldwide Cricket Council.
They protested over the “inappropriate behaviour” of Indian followers in direction of the Pakistani gamers.