Pakistani news anchors and journalists have refrained from mentioning the name of the former Prime Minister and World Cup-winning cricket legend, Imran Khan, on television. This is due to a ban on mentioning Imran Khan’s name on TV channels in Pakistan, which has been imposed by the current government. Ahead of the India vs Pakistan World Cup 2023 match, a video shows the depth of this ban, as local Pakistani news anchors and former cricket captain Wasim Akram appear reluctant to mention Imran Khan’s name on air.
Imran Khan has faced a dramatic fall from top position. He has been in custody since his arrest in a graft case on August 5, initially in Attock jail and now in Adiala jail. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended the Pakistan captain who led his team to World Cup glory in 1992 after his conviction in the case on August 29.
IND vs PAK, World Cup 2023
Meanwhile, in the ongoing World Cup, Pakistan is riding high after achieving a record-breaking run chase and is now setting their sights on securing their first-ever World Cup win against India in a highly anticipated match scheduled for Saturday.
A force of 11,000 police officers will be in charge of securing the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which will host this epic showdown between cricket’s fiercest rivals India and Pakistan, having a capacity of seating 132,000 spectators.
Both India and Pakistan are entering the match with impeccable records. Pakistan’s momentum comes from their World Cup chase of 345 against Sri Lanka, led by Mohammad Rizwan, and Abdullah Shafique at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad.
On the other hand, India entered the World Cup as the top-ranked ODI team and has lived up to its reputation as favorites, securing a six-wicket victory against five-time champions Australia and then an eight-wicket win against the Netherlands.