Pakistan cricket team on Thursday had a brief practice session at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Indian city of Hyderabad ahead of their World Cup warm-up match against New Zealand on Friday.

The team, which landed in Hyderabad on Wednesday night amid a grand welcome at the airport, left Park Hyatt Hotel around 8 am for the stadium and returned before noon. Tight security arrangements were made for the team’s travel and at the stadium.

With the mammoth Ganesh immersion procession in the city scheduled during the day, the net practice session was scheduled in the morning.

Diving into the training session in Hyderabad with a purpose 💪🏏#WeHaveWeWill | #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/ZzDdMNBDWN

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 28, 2023

The mammoth procession brings the city to a complete halt. Over 20,000 policemen have been deployed as part of the massive security for immersion in and around Hyderabad.

In view of the Ganesh immersion and also Eid Miladun Nabi procession in the city on Sunday, the city police have requested the organisers not to allow spectators in the stadium for the first warm-up match scheduled on Saturday.

📸📸#WeHaveWeWill | #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/fVAvUX115e

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 28, 2023

Pakistan’s next warm-up match will be against Australia on October 3. It is scheduled two World Cup matches here against Netherlands and Sri Lanka before heading to Ahmedabad for the big match against India on October 14.

The team led by Babar Azam flew into the city via Dubai for the first tour to India in seven years.

The team had last played in India in 2016 when it was here for the T20 World Cup.

Touchdown India 🛬#WeHaveWeWill | #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/F1IZYG9kVb

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 27, 2023

The Pakistan Cricket team, led by skipper Babar Azam, received a grand welcome on their arrival in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

A video shared by the official account of the team on X, formerly Twitter, showed an excited crowd welcoming them at the Hyderabad Airport. Held back by security officers, the supporters cheered and shouted Babar Azam's name. The video has received close to 3 million views.

A warm welcome in Hyderabad as we land on Indian shores 👏#WeHaveWeWill | #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/poyWmFYIwK

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 27, 2023

Babar Azam also seemed touched by the fanfare. "Overwhelmed with the love support here in Hyderabad," he shared in an Instagram story.

Mohammad Rizwan also took to Twitter to share the enthusiasm with which the Pakistani team was welcomed in India. "Amazing reception from the people here. Everything was super smooth. Looking forward to the next 1.5 months," he said.

Amazing reception from the people here. Everything was super smooth. Looking forward to the next 1.5 months 😇

— Muhammad Rizwan (@iMRizwanPak) September 27, 2023

Meanwhile, fans from the rival country also took to social media to share their happiness at the warm welcome their home team received. “Omg didn’t expect this number of people to show up at the airport, THANK YOU, HYDERABAD," a Pakistani cricket fan commented. Another said, "To be very honest, I didn’t expect such a great welcome of our team in India. The chants of 'Babar, Babar' on the road and at the airport were so warm. This is an epitome of what you see on social media isn’t the entire truth.”