Pakistan batsman Fakhar Zaman stated that national team preparations for the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in Africa are on track, adding that an upcoming ODI tri-series featuring England and Sri Lanka will build a strong squad combination.
Matches for the 50-over tri-series will occur in Rawalpindi and Lahore between October 18 and 31.
Fakhar told reporters that squad members are performing well following first-class matches, which simplifies the transition into ODI cricket.
"The team combination is very good, and you can see that the pitches are also being prepared accordingly. Everyone has the World Cup in mind, and our combination is excellent," he said.
He noted that athletes transitioning from first-class fixtures adapt to the 50-over format easier than T20 players because they are used to extended matches.
The 36-year-old discussed the pressure on Pakistan to secure a major ICC title, mentioning that squad members held multiple conversations about finishing the long drought for an international trophy.
Supporters anticipate strong displays and feel let down when the squad falls short, according to Fakhar, who added that every junior and senior player gives their best effort despite unpredictable outcomes.
Fakhar pointed out that Pakistan qualified for finals in recent major events but failed to secure any titles.
"Our fans are excited, but at the back of our minds, we know it has been quite some time since we won a major tournament. We have reached finals and played in them, but the happiness you experience as a nation after winning a trophy is different from reaching semi-finals or finals," he said.
Squad members view the issue with great seriousness and remain committed to securing a major title, he mentioned.
"We have had several discussions about this, and many players are taking it very seriously. We will do our best, and we hope Allah helps us bring the World Cup trophy back to Pakistan," he said.
Addressing fixtures against England, Fakhar verified that the squad reviewed strategies following a recent 3-0 loss in the Test series.
Red-ball and white-ball matches are distinct formats, he emphasized, and squad changes provided added confidence for the upcoming games.
Athletes feel enthusiastic about playing ODI fixtures after a long break and plan to use the tri-series to strengthen their lineup prior to the World Cup, he stated.
"We will try to perform well in the tri-series, and it will also help us build our combination. We are playing ODI cricket after quite some time, and hopefully, fans will get to see good-quality cricket," he concluded.
