Pakistan (PAK) and the Netherlands (NED) will square off in the second match of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup on Friday, October 6. The match will be contested at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad.
The Babar Azam-led side have suffered defeats in both of their warm-up matches against New Zealand and Australia, respectively. The Men in Green also had a terrible campaign in the 2023 Asia Cup, suffering defeats against India and Sri Lanka in the Super Four stage to get eliminated.
The Netherlands, on the other hand, have played an ODI game in the World Cup Qualifier contested in June in Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, their World Cup warm-up games against Australia and India were abandoned due to persistent rain.
Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report:
Over the years, three different types of pitches have been used at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad- red soil, black soil, and a combination of the two. Black soil pitches will produce greater bounce, which helps batters to score runs easier. On the other hand, red soil will assist the slower bowlers or spinners as the game progresses. Meanwhile, the one having a combination of both will be even. The two warm-up games played in Hyderabad were high-scoring affairs because it has a flat track, which is good for batting. The pace bowlers can control the run flow by using bouncers and slower deliveries. The team batting first has enjoyed a minor advantage in the seven official ODI matches played at this venue.
PAK vs NED Head-to-Head Record:
| Matches Played | 6 |
| Pakistan Won | 6 |
| Netherlands Won | 0 |
| Tied | 3 |
| First Played | 29-Mar-96 |
| Last Played | 21-Aug-22 |
PAK vs NED Probable Playing XI
Pakistan (PAK):
Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf
Netherlands (NED)
Max O’Dowd, Vikramjit Singh, Wesley Barresi, Bas de Leede, Teja Nidamanuru, Scott Edwards (C & wk), Shariz Ahmad, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Meekeren
Probable Best Performers:
Probable Best Batter:
Babar Azam (Pakistan):
Babar Azam could be the best batter in the second ODI match between Pakistan and Netherlands. The Pakistan skipper was crucial for the side in both their warm-up matches, scoring half-centuries. He is expected to play a major role in the upcoming match to help his team win.
Also Check: Pakistan’s Prospects in the ICC World Cup 2023: Squad, Schedule, and Tournament Overview
Probable Best Bowler:
Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan):
Shaheen Afridi is expected to be Pakistan’s best bowler in the upcoming match against the Netherlands. The star pacer has so far picked up 86 wickets from 44 ODI games at an average of 23.26 and an economy rate of 5.46. He is eager to help his team win their first match of the competition.
