World Cup fever fails to grip Hyderabad despite Pakistan's arrival

When Bas de Leede announced that cricket is being broadcast live in the Netherlands for the first time in four years, his face lit up like a child who had just gotten a long-awaited, cherished birthday gift. According to him, that is "massive" for the Dutch-land game.

That occurred on Thursday night. A Hyderabadi in his mid-twenties stood outside the venue's main entrance a few hours earlier when Pakistan's team bus, driven by police cars with sirens screaming, entered the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. He asked the security guard who was on duty, "Who are they," and the guard laughed at his ignorance.

The two seemingly unrelated instances perfectly capture the World Cup and, more specifically, the current state of turmoil in cricket. The game, which has endured for years despite having complicated rules, oddly has a grandiloquent and diminutive air to it at the moment.

A Bas de Leede may find happiness in the most unlikely of circumstances, yet the average citizen of a haughty nation that believes itself to be obsessed with cricket is utterly oblivious that a World Cup-caliber competition is taking place in his hometown. The BCCI is raking in hundreds of crores in media rights, but given the tumultuous build-up, its organizational skills are being questioned.

Only a few thousand spectators saw the first match of the 2023 edition between England and New Zealand, which took place in Ahmedabad's enormous Motera stadium. The claims that "tickets sold out" appeared to be completely off the mark.

One may also wonder why the host nation didn't participate in the tournament's first match. Since 1999, such has been the custom, and for good reason. Isn't that a simple way to get people interested?

Then, have the BCCI and the ICC done enough to publicize the massive event they are hosting?

There were scarcely any roadside banners, cutouts, or other signs of World Cup promotion throughout the nearly hour-long drive from Hyderabad's airport on the outskirts to the stadium in Uppal. The authorities appear to be playing the Pied Piper if T20 fans are to blame for the declining interest in 50-over cricket.

Everyone must have noticed the overt marketing techniques used each time the IPL is aired. How many World Cup advertising have you seen so far? How many of us can remember the catchy De Ghuma Ke World Cup 2011 theme song, but how many of us can identify it now?

When Pakistan takes on the Netherlands in their tournament opener on Friday, one is unsure if Hyderabad will be as sleepy as Ahmedabad in welcoming the one-day showpiece, but there is no harm in being optimistic after the warm reception that the Pakistan team famously received upon their arrival in this city.

Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan, is unquestionably among them.

To be completely honest, we didn't anticipate such a response. When we arrived here, a large number of individuals arrived at the airport. They supported us by applauding for us. The most recent game attracted a sizable audience. They appeared to be enjoying the game a lot. Thus, it feels good. Babar added on Thursday, "I think it would have been even better if we had Pakistani fans here.

In fact, Pakistan appeared to be having a good time when they practiced on Thursday. Detailed fielding practice was followed by careful net work.

The Netherlands camp also worked up a sweat, but later.

The pitch seems like concrete carpet from a distance, and it wouldn't surprise me if the batters win the game on Friday.

Having said that, Pakistan will need to be on guard against this determined Dutch team that hopes to advance to the semifinals. A few months ago in Harare, the Dutch bravely chased down a 375-run target against the West Indies, tying the game before winning the Super Over.

Security at the stadium was unbeatable for Pakistan, while the subject of audience interest is still up for debate. Even the scribes were prohibited from watching the majority of Babar and Company's Thursday online session.

Dutch aim high with nothing to lose.

The Netherlands' final appearance in a World Cup ODI was in 2011. They have set a lofty goal of at least making it to the semifinals for their comeback after 12 years.

However, even if they don't, they won't be disappointed.

"For us, returning for the first time since 2011 is certainly special, but we've set our sights high by aiming to reach the semifinals. Bas de Leede remarked on Thursday, "But I don't think if we don't make it, we're a failure or anything like that.

"Even if we don't advance, we can still be happy of ourselves since we played our best cricket. However, by putting the semi-final as our objective, we can likely go above and beyond what people anticipate of us.

Therefore, I believe it's a combination of having nothing to lose and attempting to play at our best once more after 12 years... The 23-year-old all-rounder, whose father Tim represented the Dutch in three World Cups, said, "We're here and that is already big.

OUR RESPONDER

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