'Mystique' around Pakistan team, says coach Arthur / Photo: Noah SEELAM - AFP
-
Does White House ask AI to decide policy? Democrats want the receipts
-
No surprise to Carrick he's still Man Utd manager
-
French businessman Roux de Bezieux takes over 2030 Winter Olympics after leadership turmoil
-
Two dead in rock spire collapse at tourist site in Turkey's Cappadocia
-
Tech jitters pull down Wall Street stocks
-
ECB holds rates steady after Lagarde says to quit early
-
Alaska governor orders probe into election same-name 'spoiler'
-
US economy posts strong growth, inflation stubbornly high in challenge to Trump
-
Gang-plagued Haiti sets election dates for 2027
-
What we know about Spain's deadly train crash
-
Neville warns managers can need sacking 'for their own good' as Carrick fights on
-
ECB chief Lagarde to step down early, triggering succession race
-
French businessman takes over 2030 Winter Olympics amid leadership turmoil
-
'Horrific' Russian drone strike kills 14 at Ukraine train station: Kyiv
-
Russell Brand found monogamy 'difficult', wife tells UK rape trial
-
VW says 'no time to lose' to slash costs after 5.8 billion euro loss
-
Dubai building that saw city's rise from desert due for demolition
-
Australia lead by 100 after Inglis century
-
Duckett's best lifts England to 386-5 in Sri Lanka dead rubber
-
Martin to ride with broken wrist in Malaysian MotoGP practice
-
Stock markets diverge on corporate earnings, tech jitters
-
England forward Toney to stand trial for alleged assault in June 2028
-
'Horrific' Russian drone strike kills 13 at Ukraine train station: Kyiv
-
Warrican's five-wicket haul leads West Indies fightback in Bangladesh Test
-
Maresca braced for another tough test in Brighton repeat
-
Oil majors reap bumper profits as Mideast war drives prices
-
Ukraine says at least 13 killed in Russian attack on train station
-
Christine Lagarde: unifying ECB chief in turbulent times
-
ECB President Christine Lagarde to step down in February 2027
-
Rybakina secures year-end top rank with Tokyo win
-
A year on, Tanzanians mourn election massacres in 'state of terror'
-
Rains bring relief to Indonesian city weary of fire haze
-
Israel piles pressure on Arab parties as Netanyahu seeks government
-
Osaka vows to return stronger after Tokyo exit
-
'Call of Duty' slammed for using real Seoul crowd crush footage
-
Hello Kitty firm apologises, scraps Japan TV tie-up after China anger
-
TotalEnergies profit hits record on high oil prices
-
Taiwan says Pakistan briefly closed airspace to Taiwanese flights
-
Key of seethe: I.Coast row with Sahel juntas spills into concert halls
-
'My blood was spilled here': a year on, Tanzania unable to mourn election violence
-
Romanian writer Cartarescu hails books as balm in turmoil
-
Afghanistan opium poppy cultivation surges despite Taliban govt ban: UN
-
Mbappe, Real Madrid and La Liga face long road to redemption in China
-
No World Series miracle for weary Rays
-
North Korea fires 'around a dozen' ballistic missiles into East Sea
-
Miami Heat earn first win of NBA season with Antetokounmpo
-
Brewers catcher Contreras named World Series MVP
-
Brewers beat Rays 4-1 to capture first World Series title
-
Asian stock markets fluctuate after mixed tech results
-
Philippine island fights rising seas with nature, not concrete
'Mystique' around Pakistan team, says coach Arthur
Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur believes there's a "bit of mystique" around his World Cup team as they make a first appearance in India for seven years.
Pakistan arrived to a warm welcome in Hyderabad despite earlier fears that the bitter political rivalry between the two neighbours could force a boycott of the tournament.
Only two of the 15-man squad have ever visited India before and Arthur believes this has contributed to the curiosity surrounding the 1992 champions.
Pakistan last competed in India at the 2016 Twenty20 World Cup.
"We've had a wonderful reception so far in India. I'm pretty sure we'll get that around our games as well," said Arthur on Thursday.
"I think there's a bit of a mystique. The Indian public loves cricket. They don't get to see the likes of Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammed Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, they don't get to see them often.
"So, I think that's going to be part of the attraction."
Pakistan begin their World Cup campaign against rank outsiders Netherlands in Hyderabad on Friday.
However, Arthur refused to say if he believes cricket diplomacy may lead to a thaw in relations between New Delhi and Islamabad.
"Whatever happens outside, that's above my pay grade, I'm not qualified to talk about that," he said.
P.Costa--AMWN