Pakistan will take on the Netherlands in their opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on October 6. Both teams will be eager to start their campaign on a positive note and gain some momentum in the tournament. Pakistan have a dominant head-to-head record against the Netherlands, having won all six ODIs they have played against them so far. However, the Dutch have shown some resilience and flair in the qualifiers and cannot be taken lightly.
Hyderabad weather forecast
The weather in Hyderabad is expected to remain mostly sunny on October 6. There is no chance of rain playing a spoilsport during the World Cup match between Pakistan and the Netherlands. The temperature could hover around 21 degrees Celsius to 32 degrees Celsius. The humidity level could be around 50%, which could make the conditions slightly uncomfortable for the players. The wind speed could be around 10 km/h, which could assist the swing bowlers in the initial overs.
Rajiv Gandhi Stadium pitch report
The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium is known to offer a balanced playing surface that caters to both batters and bowlers. Initially, the pitch tends to provide favourable conditions for fast bowlers, allowing them to exploit early seam and swing conditions. However, as the match progresses and the batters settle in, the pitch typically becomes more conducive to scoring runs. This shift in conditions can lead to higher scoring opportunities for batsmen who adapt to the pitch.
The average first innings score at this venue in ODIs is 286, while the average second innings score is 252. The highest total at this ground is 350/4 by Australia against India in 2023, while the lowest total is 136 by England against India in 2022. The chasing teams have won four out of seven ODIs played here so far.
Key players and stats
- Pakistan have some world-class players in their squad who can make a difference in any game. Babar Azam is their captain and leading batsman, who has scored 222 runs against the Netherlands in three ODIs at an average of 74. He also scored a brilliant century against New Zealand in the warm-up match and will be looking to continue his form in the World Cup. Fakhar Zaman is another explosive opener who can provide a flying start to Pakistan. He has scored 138 runs against the Netherlands in three ODIs at an average of 46, including a hundred.
- Pakistan also have a potent bowling attack that can trouble any batting line-up. Shaheen Afridi is their spearhead who can swing the ball both ways and pick up early wickets. He has taken six wickets against the Netherlands in three ODIs at an economy rate of 4.66. Hasan Ali is another fast bowler who can bowl with pace and accuracy. He has taken five wickets against the Netherlands in two ODIs at an economy rate of 4.25. Shadab Khan is their premier spinner who can provide control and variation in the middle overs. He has taken four wickets against the Netherlands in two ODIs at an economy rate of 4.75.
- The Netherlands have some talented players who can challenge Pakistan with their skills and spirit. Tom Cooper is their most experienced batsman who has scored 193 runs against Pakistan in six ODIs at an average of 64.33. He also scored a half-century against West Indies in the qualifiers and will be hoping to replicate his performance in the World Cup. Bas de Leede is another promising young batsman who has scored 89 runs against Pakistan in one ODI at an average of 89. He also scored a century against Oman in the qualifiers and will be keen to prove his mettle on the big stage.
- The Netherlands also have some quality bowlers who can pose a threat to Pakistan’s batting line-up. Timm van der Gugten is their leading fast bowler who has taken seven wickets against Pakistan in six ODIs at an economy rate of 5.66. He also took four wickets against Scotland in the qualifiers and will be looking to carry his form into the World Cup. Fred Klaassen is another left-arm seamer who can swing the ball and create pressure on the batsmen. He has taken four wickets against Pakistan in three ODIs at an economy rate of 5.33. Pieter Seelaar is their captain and main spinner who can bowl with accuracy and guile. He has taken three wickets against Pakistan in six ODIs at an economy rate of 4.66.
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Pak vs Ned: Probable playing XIs
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf.
Netherlands: Max O’Dowd, Stephan Myburgh, Ben Cooper, Tom Cooper, Bas de Leede, Scott Edwards (wk), Pieter Seelaar (c), Timm van der Gugten, Fred Klaassen, Paul van Meekeren, Brandon Glover.
Pak vs Ned: Match prediction
Pakistan are the clear favourites to win this match based on their head-to-head record and overall strength. However, they cannot afford to be complacent or overconfident as the Netherlands have shown that they can upset the big teams on their day. The Dutch will have to play out of their skins and hope for some luck to go their way if they want to pull off a historic win. The match could be a high-scoring affair with both teams having some powerful hitters in their ranks. The toss could also play a crucial role as the chasing team might have an advantage on this pitch.
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