Pakistan-India clash felt like a BCCI event, not an ICC event: Mickey Arthur

Pakistan's team director, Mickey Arthur, remarked that the atmosphere during the World Cup match on Saturday felt more like a home game for India, with an overwhelming presence of Indian fans at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium.

He expressed his candid opinion during the post-match press conference, stating that the event did not resemble a typical ICC tournament but rather seemed like a bilateral series.

"It didn't seem like an ICC event tonight – let's be brutally honest. It seemed like a bilateral series or a BCCI event. I didn't hear Dil Dil Pakistan coming through the mics too often. That does play a role, but I won't use it as an excuse," Arthur said.

Arthur also expressed disappointment in Pakistan team's inability to capitalize on their promising beginning, going from 155/2 to a total of 191 all out.  India went onto easily chase the target with seven wickets in hand.

"I think we were timid with our overall performance today. I would've liked us to take the game on a bit more. It's a massive occasion, but we went into our shells a little bit. To go from 155/2 to 191 all out is just not on," he added.

Pakistan head coach, Grant Bradburn also agreed with Arthur’s statement about atmosphere in Narendra Modi Stadium during the clash between the arch-rivals.

“Naturally, that was going to be the case,” Bradburn said when asked about the atmosphere in the stadium.

“We're really sad that our supporters aren't here. They would love to be here. And I'm sure Indian cricket fans would love to have our supporters here as well. So, it was certainly unusual that way. No familiar music for us today. So, it did not feel like a World Cup game, in all honesty. But look, we didn't expect anything else. We loved the occasion. And we're disappointed that we didn't do justice to the occasion and justice to our how many fans at home and globally” he added.