VIDEO: Pakistani players go shopping in Kolkata

KOLKATA: Pakistani cricketers, taking a day off, went shopping on Tuesday ahead of their World Cup match against defending champions England scheduled to take place on November 11.

The Men in Green took a rest day today and will resume their training tomorrow (Wednesday) at 2pm local time.

Squad members including Usama Mir, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Abdullah Shafique, and Zaman Khan visited a shopping mall near the team's hotel in Kolkata.

The Pakistani players received a warm welcome from the locals during their outing who rushed to take pictures and selfies with them.

Aside from buying clothes for themselves, Shafique and Mir — in light of Saud Shakeel's advice — bought sarees for their family members as well.

The players had earlier planned to go to a movie as well but didn't go through with it.

Earlier in the day, skipper Babar Azam along with the team's head coach Grant Bradburn, batting coach Andrew Puttick, and bowling coach Morne Morkel went golfing as the national side took a rest day today (Tuesday).

Today's outing is likely to boost the team's morale as the Men in Green are not allowed to venture out of their hotel without heavy security, forcing them to spend most of their time in hotel rooms.

Last week, team director Mickey Arthur complained of "stifling" COVID-like conditions due to strict security measures.

"What has been tough is the fact that we've been under a massive amount of security. So, I've been sort of taken aback."

"I found it difficult. It's almost like we've been back in the COVID times, [when] you were almost secluded to your floor and your team room," Arthur said.