Pakistan vs Netherlands: Match Prediction, Dream11 Team, Fantasy Tips and Pitch Report

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is underway and the second match of the tournament will see Pakistan take on Netherlands at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on October 6.

This will be the first time that these two teams will face each other in a World Cup match. Pakistan are the former champions and one of the most unpredictable teams in world cricket, while

Netherlands are the associate members and the underdogs who have qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 2011.

Match Prediction

Pakistan are ranked sixth in the ICC ODI rankings and have a mixed record in the World Cup. They have won the title once in 1992 and reached the final once in 1999. They have also made it to the semi-finals four times, most recently in 2011.

However, they have also had some disappointing campaigns, such as in 2003, 2007 and 2019, when they failed to qualify for the knockout stages.

Pakistan are known for their unpredictability and inconsistency, as they can beat any team on their day or lose to any team on their off day.

Netherlands are ranked 13th in the ICC ODI rankings and have a modest record in the World Cup.

They have played only four editions of the tournament, in 1996, 2003, 2007 and 2011. They have won only two matches out of 20, against Namibia in 2003 and England in 2009.

They have also lost by huge margins to some of the top teams, such as by 215 runs to South Africa in 2007 and by 231 runs to Sri Lanka in 2011.

Netherlands are known for their fighting spirit and resilience, as they can challenge some of the stronger teams with their spirited performances.

The pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium is expected to be flat and good for batting. The average first innings score at this venue in ODIs is 286.

The weather forecast for October 6 is sunny and hot, with no chances of rain. The team that wins the toss might opt to bat first and put up a big total on the board.

Considering the recent form, head-to-head record and team composition,

Pakistan have a clear edge over Netherlands in this match. However,

Netherlands are not to be taken lightly, as they can spring some surprises with their determination and skill.

It will be an interesting contest between a seasoned team and a debutant team, but Pakistan might just win it comfortably in the end.

## Dream11 Team

Here is our suggested Dream11 team for this match:

Wicketkeeper: Scott Edwards

Batsmen: Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Max O’Dowd, Tom Cooper

All-rounders: Shadab Khan (vc), Mohammad Hafeez

Bowlers: Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Logan van Beek, Vivian Kingma

Fantasy Tips

Babar Azam is our captain for this match. He is one of the best batsmen in the world and the captain of Pakistan. He has scored 3881 runs in 80 ODIs at an average of 56.75 and a strike rate of 88.69. He also scored a brilliant century against England in July. He will be eager to lead from the front and score big runs against Netherlands.

Shadab Khan is our vice-captain for this match. He is one of the most valuable players in the world and a match-winner for Pakistan. He is a brilliant all-rounder who can contribute with both bat and ball. He has scored 529 runs and taken 60 wickets in 54 ODIs. He also took three wickets against Afghanistan in August. He will be looking to make an impact in this match with his spin bowling and lower-order hitting.

Fakhar Zaman is another batsman who can score big runs at the top of the order for Pakistan. He has scored 2348 runs in 54 ODIs at an average of 45.05 and a strike rate of 97.33. He also scored two centuries against South Africa earlier this year. He will be keen to replicate his performance and give Pakistan a solid start.

Max O’Dowd is one of the most consistent batsmen for Netherlands and their opener. He has scored 1035 runs in 25 ODIs at an average of 45.00 and a strike rate of86.76. He also scored two half-centuries against Ireland earlier this year. He will be looking to continue his run-scoring spree and anchor the Netherlands innings.

Tom Cooper is one of the most experienced players for Netherlands and their middle-order batsman. He has scored 1184 runs in 38 ODIs at an average of 37.00 and a strike rate of 86.95. He also scored a century against Namibia in 2019. He will be looking to provide some stability and firepower to the Netherlands batting line-up.

Haris Rauf is one of the most promising fast bowlers for Pakistan and their strike bowler. He has taken 18 wickets in 12 ODIs at an average of 29.77 and an economy rate of 6.40. He also took four wickets against England in July. He will be looking to bowl with pace and accuracy and trouble the Netherlands batsmen with his variations.

Logan van Beek is one of the most effective all-rounders for Netherlands and their leading wicket-taker. He has scored 435 runs and taken 46 wickets in 34 ODIs. He also took four wickets against Ireland earlier this year. He will be looking to provide some balance to the Netherlands team with his batting and bowling skills.

The pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium is expected to be flat and good for batting. The average first innings score at this venue in ODIs is 286.

The weather forecast for October 6 is sunny and hot, with no chances of rain. The team that wins the toss might opt to bat first and put up a big total on the board.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Pakistan have several strengths that could help them win this match, such as:-

Their batting depth and firepower, led by Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan and Shoaib Malik.

– Their spin bowling options, such as Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz and Imad Wasim, who can exploit the dry conditions and keep the run-rate in check.

– Their unpredictability and ability to bounce back from any situation, as they have shown in previous tournaments.Pakistan also have some weaknesses that could hamper their chances, such as:

– Their inconsistency and lack of confidence, as they have lost several matches recently, including to Afghanistan in a warm-up game.

– Their pace bowling vulnerability, as their fast bowlers have been expensive and ineffective, especially Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz.

– Their fielding lapses and fitness issues, as they have dropped catches and missed run-outs, which could prove costly in crucial moments.

Netherlands have some strengths that could help them challenge Pakistan, such as:

– Their fighting spirit and resilience, as they have qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 10 years and have nothing to lose.

– Their batting stability and experience, led by Max O’Dowd, Tom Cooper, Bas de Leede and Scott Edwards.

– Their bowling variety and discipline, led by Logan van Beek, Vivian Kingma, Tim Pringle and Aryan Dutt.Netherlands also have some weaknesses that could hinder their chances, such as:

– Their lack of exposure and experience against top teams, as they have played only a few matches against full members in recent years.

– Their lack of depth and firepower in both batting and bowling departments, as they rely heavily on a few players to perform.

– Their lack of adaptability and flexibility to different conditions and situations, as they are used to playing mostly in Europe.

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