Pakistan vs Netherlands, Match 2
ICC World Cup, 6 October, 2023, 2:00 PM IST, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
The much-awaited ICC ODI World Cup in India got underway on October 5 and the Babar Azam-led Pakistan and the Netherlands will start their campaign on the second day of the tournament.
The two teams will lock horns against each other at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad with the match scheduled to commence at 2 PM IST.
Tables have turned on Pakistan over the last month or so. They looked to be in the best shape before the Asia Cup but a heavy defeat at the hands of arch-rivals India messed things up for them completely. They lost a close game to Sri Lanka as well and couldn’t make it to the final of the tournament either.
Read also: Pakistan vs Netherlands head to head
To make things worse, they also lost both their warm-up matches with their bowlers conceding more than 340 runs in each outing. Nevertheless, their batters also amassed those many runs only to be on the losing side. Pakistan are the most unpredictable side and on their day, they can destroy any team.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands, led by young Scott Edwards, have literally nothing to lose and can express themselves to the fullest. They landed in India well before the tournament and also played a few practice One-Day matches against Karnataka.
They fared well with the ball against Australia in the rain-hit warm-up while the rain gods washed out their final warm-up against India.
In an ideal world, there are no prizes for guessing over which team is the favourite to win this match. But when it's Pakistan, nothing can be predicted easily.
Team Form, Last 5 Matches for Pakistan: L-L-W-NR-W
Team Form, Last 5 Matches for the Netherlands: L-W-W-L-W
Contents
PAK vs NED Match Preview
Pakistan
Despite losses in the last few matches, Pakistan seem clear about their playing XI at the moment. There are doubts over Fakhar Zaman’s position in the line-up with Abdullah Shafique also in the set up. But the former is expected to start. Skipper Babar will bat at three and will have the onus alongside Rizwan to put the team in a dominant position. Late entrant Shakeel might have just sealed his place ahead of Agha Salman in the XI.
Aaj bhi aur kal bhi
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 4, 2023
Dil se, aur jaan se
Hum hain #DattKePakistani 🇵🇰#JunoonKaRung pic.twitter.com/lqBHCCj30m
As far as the bowling attack is concerned, vice-captain Shadab Khan will play amidst criticism regarding lack of wickets. Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf is the pace battery while there could be debate around playing Usama Mir ahead of Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Probable Best Perfomers
Probable Best Batter: Babar Azam
Probable Best Bowler: Shaheen Afridi
Probable Playing XI: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Iftikhar Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali
Netherlands
The Netherlands have quite an experienced bunch of players and the onus with the bat will be on Max O’Dowd, Wesley Baressi and Bas de Leede. Logan van Beek and Roelof van der Merwe both will definitely start while Paul van Meekeren will lead the pace attack.
A Royal entry to Hyderabad 👑 for our #CWC23 opening fixture.
— Cricket🏏Netherlands (@KNCBcricket) October 4, 2023
Let's go! pic.twitter.com/weIxLsDJXS
The middle-order will also see Teja Nidamanuru getting a chance ahead of Sybrand Engelbrecht. Skipper Edwards will bat at number five and also carry the team’s batting lower down the order.
Probable Best Performers
Probable Best Batter: Bas de Leede
Probable Best Bowler: Paul van Meekeren
Probable Playing XI: Vikramjit Singh, Max O’Dowd, Wesley Baressi, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards (C & WK), Teja Nidamanuru, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Paul van Meekeren, Shariz Ahmad
Pitch Report and Expected Weather Conditions for Pakistan vs Netherlands
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Pitch Report: The surface at this venue is full of runs as shown in the warm-up fixtures. The bowlers will have to worry about their lines and lengths to make sure they don’t falter.
With defending being extremely tough, the team winning the toss is likely to bowl first. Spinners might not enjoy bowling on this surface with the pitch being described as ‘road’.
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium ODI Records
Total Matches: 7
Match Won batting first: 4
Match won bowling first: 3
Average 1st innings score: 288
Average 2nd innings score: 262
Expected weather condition: The sun is expected to shine bright on both teams with temperatures hovering in the low 30s. There is no forecast of rain during this match.
Pakistan vs Netherlands Dream11 Match Prediction
Wicket-keepers: Mohammad Rizwan, Scott Edwards
Batters: Babr Azam, Imam-ul-Haq
All-rounders: Shadab Khan, Bas de Leede
Bowlers: Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf
Recommended Captain: Shaheen Afridi
Recommended Vice-captain: Babar Azam
The Dream11 Fantasy team can be picked only after toss with more Pakistan’s bowlers as they are expected to pick more wickets. Rizwan, Babar and Imam are must-picks in the Fantasy team while De Leede and Van Beek make the difference for their side.
Among other bowlers, Van der Merwe and Van Beek will be key for their side. In the all-rounder department, Shadab and De Leede will mostly give points in all the aspects of the game.
Babar Azam can be one of the best captaincy options but given how fragile the Netherlands batting is, making Shaheen the captain is the perfect option.
Edwards and Hasan Ali can turn out to be the surprise picks with not much expected of them. Hasan is making a comeback and will have a point to prove by picking up wickets.
Pakistan vs Netherlands win prediction: Pakistan to win
Pakistan are a pretty strong unit when it comes to playing to their full potential. But Babar Azam and his men can make things tough for them at times.
It won’t be a cakewalk for Pakistan and with the Netherlands expected to come hard at the opposition, they will have to be careful. However, Pakistan are expected to win this match.
