As India and Pakistan prepare for the big clash at the largest cricket stadium in the world on October 14, one of the aspects they will be wary of is the backlash from fans in case of a defeat. India-Pakistan games invariably lead to extreme reactions on either side of the border, in victory or defeat. Captains have been sacked in the past, and teams have gone major changes.

Babar, who has had a quiet start to the World Cup with the bat, was asked a question on these lines ahead of the game at the pre-match press conference. His calm response would please Pakistan fans.

“I never worry that because of this match I will lose my captaincy. Whatever God has written for me – I will play. I will get what I deserve,” said Babar. “I didn’t get the captaincy because of one match, and I will not lose it because of a match. I believe that.”

He has, in fact, asked his teammates to keep things simple: “Just simple plans. This is the best opportunity for you. Best opportunity to execute your game. Go and execute it. And the main thing is to enjoy.”

[caption id=”attachment_586650″ align=”alignnone” width=”1024″] Babar Azam was strangled down the leg side for 10 (15) vs Sri Lanka in Hyderabad[/caption]

Pakistan have won their first two games of the World Cup, including a world record chase against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad, but Babar himself has not done anything of note with the bat.

The two matches have yielded just 15 runs for Pakistan’s captain, a record he hopes to set straight soon: “My World Cup till right now has not been as it should have been – but hopefully you will see some difference in the next matches.”

Pakistan are yet to open their account against their arch rivals at the men’s ODI World Cup, with the seven previous encounters between them all going in the favour of India.