Pakistan vs Netherlands Probable playing XI: Babar Azam's Pakistan start their ODI World Cup 2023 campaign with a match against Netherlands on Friday (October 6) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Pakistan vs Netherlands ODI World Cup 2023 clash in Hyderabad will begin from 2 pm IST onwards. Pakistan have been struggling with poor form. They lost both their world cup warm-up practice matches against Australia and New Zealand. Pakistan's ODI World Cup 2023 match against Netherlands, today, has given them a chance to return to form before facing big names. On the other hand, Netherlands, playing their only fifth ODI World Cup tournament, can take advantage of Pakistan's poor form and beat them to make a big statement.
Pakistan, today, will be playing its first international match on Indian soil since the 2011 World Cup. In Netherlands, Wesley Baresi is the only player in the current squad who featured in the 2011 World Cup.
Ahead of Pakistan vs Netherlands ODI World Cup 2023 match in Hyderabad, let's have a look at the predicted playing XI of both teams.
Imam Ul Haq averages over 50 in ODIs with a strike rate of 80-plus but on the flat pitches in India, he will have to score runs more aggressively. Imam is expected to open the innings against Netherlands but for second opener option, Pakistan will have to choose between out-of-form Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafiq. Captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who bat at number three and four, are in excellent form, which is a big positive for Pakistan.
ODI World Cup 2023 Match number 2: Pakistan vs Netherlands Probable playing XI
Pakistan Probable playing XI: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar-Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali.
Netherlands Probable playing XI: Vikramjit Singh, Max O'Dowd, Wesley Barresi, Colin Ackerman, Scott Edwards (C&WK), Bas de Lied, Roel van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Shariz Ahmed, Ryan Clyne, Paul van Meekeren.