England vs Pakistan, Match 44
ICC World Cup, 11 November, 2023, 2 PM IST, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
England and Pakistan will face each other in the 44th match of the ongoing World Cup on Saturday (November 11).
The clash is set to be played at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata even as it is the penultimate match of the league stage of the mega event. Moreover, this match will also confirm the four semifinalists of the competition.
Fakhar Zaman centuries in international cricket: ODI, T20I and Tests
England have been knocked out of the World Cup already but their place in the Champions Trophy 2025 is at stake at the moment. Also, they will be playing for pride and will look to bow out of the World Cup on a high being the defending champions.
It has been a forgettable World Cup for them and it could be the last game of many players’ ODI careers.
David Willey has already announced his international retirement and it will be an emotional moment for him as he walks out for one last time donning the England jersey.
Meanwhile, it is a massive encounter for Pakistan as they have to win the match by a massive margin to trump New Zealand on the net run-rate. They have found some much needed momentum at the back end of the World Cup having defeated Bangladesh and New Zealand in their last two games.
Perhaps, many had written them off after they conceded 401 runs to the Kiwis in Bengaluru in the previous outing. But the rain-affected chase was well planned by Pakistan and thanks to Fakhar Zaman’s century, they were on par with the DLS score when rain arrived for one final time in the 26th over.
Pakistan stayed alive and results have gone in their favour since then much to the delight of their fans.
The England vs Pakistan prediction is an easy one to predict given the momentum is with the latter side at the moment.
However, England also cannot be written off easily as they have been a force in the 50-over format over the last few years. They will be keen on turning things around and end their fledgling campaign on a high.
Team Form, Last 5 Matches for Pakistan: W-W-L-L-L
Team Form, Last 5 Matches for the England: L-L-L-L-L
Contents
ENG vs PAK Match Preview
England
England won’t mind trying out a few players but then Champions Trophy qualification is also at stake and they would eagerly be looking for those two points to make it to the top eight of the table.
Willey is certainly playing this match, his last at the international level while Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler will be hoping to finally leave India with some runs to add to their tally.
Liam Livingstone is also desperate for runs even as the batsmen will have to bat carefully against the spinners. The surface at Eden Gardens assisted spin bowlers a lot in the India vs South Africa game and the same could be the case yet again.
Babar Azam centuries in international cricket
Probable Best Performers
Probable Best Batter: Joe Root
Probable Best Bowler: David Willey
Probable Playing XI: Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (C & WK), Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
Pakistan
Pakistan are finally looking settled with their playing XI and have things happening for them. Fakhar Zaman’s inclusion has infused a different level of confidence in them and unless there are fitness concerns, they won’t be making any changes to their playing XI.
Having said that, their bowling has to step up big time in this match.
They cannot concede more than 300 runs and then hope for the batters to win them the game every time. Moreover, with NRR coming into the equation, the bowling attack led by Shaheen Afridi should find ways to restrict the opposition and bowl with discipline too.
Probable Best Perfomers
Probable Best Batter: Babar Azam
Probable Best Bowler: Shaheen Afridi
Probable Playing XI: Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Haris Rauf
📹 Onwards to Kolkata from Bengaluru ✈️#CWC23 | #DattKePakistani pic.twitter.com/YVwwHb4svi
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 5, 2023
Pitch Report and Expected Weather Conditions for ENG vs PAK
Chasing has been tougher at this World Cup but Pakistan are coming off one such victoriously while they chased down 200-odd runs against Bangladesh at the same venue too. It’s a win-win situation for them playing at the Eden Gardens and it remains to be seen which pitch is used for this match. Spinners might come into play as the match progresses. The team winning the toss has to bat first.
Eden Gardens, Kolkata ODI Records
Total Matches: 38
Match Won batting first: 22
Match won bowling first: 15
Average 1st innings score: 242
Average 2nd innings score: 198
Expected weather condition: Sun will be out on Saturday in Kolkata and it will get cooler in the evening. There is no chance of rain whatsoever during the match while the temperature will be around 25 Degrees Celsius to 32 Degrees Celsius during the action in the middle.
England vs Pakistan Dream11 Match Prediction
Wicket-keepers: Jos Buttler, Mohammad Rizwan
Batters: Dawid Malan, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique
All-rounders: Chris Woakes
Bowlers: Shaheen Afridi, Mark Wood, Usama Mir, Adil Rashid
Recommended Captain: Mohammad Rizwan
Recommended Vice-captain: Babar Azam
Fakhar Zaman isn’t the captain or vice-captain option as the law of averages might get him in this game. But Rizwan and Babar are due a big knock and they are good multiplier options in Dream11 Fantasy.
Among England players, Buttler will have a point to prove while Malan is in better nick compared to Bairstow. Chris Woakes is a good Dream11 option to have thanks to his all-round abilities. It is imperative to have spinners in Mir and Rashid while Afridi and Wood cannot be ignored at all.
England vs Pakistan Dream11 win prediction: Pakistan to win
Pakistan certainly have momentum with them at the moment and that will be enough for them to trump England. But the men in green will be hoping to also trump New Zealand in the net run-rate.
