Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur hopes his team will have two wins under their belts before they face old rivals India in the eagerly-awaited World Cup blockbuster. The 1992 champions face the Netherlands first up in Hyderabad on Friday followed by Sri Lanka at the same venue four days later.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan will then lock horns against India in Ahmedabad on October 14 in front of 132,000 fans in the world's biggest cricket arena.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's going to be an unbelievable spectacle," said Arthur on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I can't wait for it, personally. Hopefully we've got two wins under the belt before we get to Ahmedabad."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Arthur praised world number one ODI team India.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"India are playing some fantastic cricket, but so are we," said Arthur. "I just think it's going to be a great game. I can't wait for it, personally."
\r\nPakistan will hope to overcome a poor show in the recent Asia Cup where they suffered a 228-run rout at the hands of India and lost by two wickets against Sri Lanka.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
They also went down in both World Cup warm-up games against New Zealand and Australia, also in Hyderabad.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Arthur said his team will, however, be focused on the Netherlands rather than India.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We're not getting too far ahead of ourselves," said Arthur. "First of all, the boys love being in India, which is fantastic.
\r\n"The pressure of a World Cup is always massive. But I think our boys are in a really good place."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan appointed Arthur in April this year for a second stint, doubling up on his job with Derbyshire in the English county championship.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He vowed to complete the unfinished business of winning a second World Cup to add to Pakistan's 1992 triumph.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I felt in 2019 we were very, very close," said Arthur despite Pakistan failing to reach the semi-finals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"These young boys have now become men and have another four years’ experience.
\r\n"Look, they're a very close group because they've played together for so long. They know each other backwards. They're not only teammates, but they're generally friends as well."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The pitch at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad is known for high scores with New Zealand chasing 346 and Pakistan compiling 337 in a chase of 352 against Australia in the warm-ups.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It looks an incredibly good wicket," said Arthur. "The wickets we had for the warm-up games were brilliant and this pitch looks no different. It looks like a very, very good one."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Arthur also played down concerns over the lack of form of opener Fakhar Zaman and spinning allrounder Shadab Khan.<\/p>\r\n\r\n