With the T20 International World Cup 2024 just around the corner,Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has urged the fans to support the Green Shirts regardless of the result on the pitch.
Speaking with journalists in London, the PCB chairman said: "Support the team and assure them that we [the fans] are with you [the team] whether you win or lose."
"This is the time to support the team, the next month is sensitive [in this regard]," Naqvi added.
Commenting on the team combination in the tournament, the PCB chief said that the discretion on the said issue lies with the captain and team management.
"Overall, a strategy is in place that they don't have to panic and give their best [on the field]," Naqvi said.
Furthermore, speaking at a dinner hosted by Pakistan's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Dr Mohammad Faisal in honour of the Green Shirts, Naqvi reiterated his earlier remarks and said: "I just want to request one thing which we really need for the next four weeks. Let us all support our players."
The event was attended by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, former caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Chief Minister Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti and a large number of Pakistani community living in the UK.
Expressing his views on the occasion, Khan said he was proud that the Pakistani team had come to London once again.
"Babar Azam is my favourite player, he is a role model," the mayor said while expressing hope that today's match will be a good one.
His remarks come as the national side is set to take on England in the last encounter of the four-match T20 series against the hosts later today.
This is a must win game for the Green Shirts to level the series as the Jos Butter-led side is currently leading the series 1-0 after winning the second T20 by 23 runs at the Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham.
The first and the third matches were washed out due to rain.
The series is likely to play a key role in the national side's preparations for the T20 World Cup which is set to commence on June 1.
June 6: Pakistan vs USA, Dallas
June 9: Pakistan vs India, New York
June 11: Pakistan vs Canada, New York
June 16: Pakistan vs Ireland, Lauderhill
Group A: India, Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, United States
Group B: England, Australia, Namibia, Scotland, Oman
Group C: New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan, Uganda, Papua New Guinea
Group D: South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Netherlands, Nepal