Get ready for an epic showdown! Check out our Cricket Match Preview of Pakistan vs Netherlands, featuring key players and predictions.
The Netherlands were the tenth and final team to qualify for the CWC after making the final of the CWC qualifying tournament held in Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka comfortably beat them in the final of the qualifying tournament. However, it was a great effort to make the final as they had to get past the likes of the West Indies, Scotland, Ireland and Zimbabwe.
Pakistan have played in two ODI series in 2023 against New Zealand in Pakistan and Afghanistan in Sri Lanka. They won both series, 4-1 against New Zealand and 3-0 against Afghanistan.
Narendra Modi Stadium Pitch Information
This pitch offers a balanced surface that can work for both batters and bowlers. Early on the pitch tends to be favorable for the pace bowlers and we may see some seam and swing. As the match goes on and the batters get their eye in, the pitch can favor the batsman and we may some runs.
Netherlands vs Pakistan predicated XIs
Netherlands: Vikramjit Singh, Max O'Dowd, Wesley Barresi, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards, Ryan Klein, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Shariz Ahmed and Paul van Meekeren.
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel/Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf.
Who to play in your GDS starting XI
Batters
The three batters that I’m likely going to start will be Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman. Over the last ten matches these players average the following points based on the GDS scoring.
Babar Azam – 54 points
Imam-ul-Haq – 60 points
Fakhar Zaman – 29 points
Between these sides there are only six players in GDS with a batter position designation and expecting only four of them to play, maybe five. Other than the above-mentioned batters, O’Dowd and Shakeel might be the other options. I’m predicting Pakistan to win this match and I think there is a decent chance of one of their top three batsmen making a big score, maybe even two of them. More so than O’Dowd for the Netherlands and Shakeel who will likely bat at five if he plays.
All-Rounders
The four all-rounders that I’m likely going to start will be Bas de Leede, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed and Colin Ackermann. Over the last ten matches these players average the following points based on the GDS scoring.
Bas de Leede – 119 points
Shadab Khan – 71 points
Iftikhar Ahmed – 68 points
Colin Ackermann – 71 points
I think picking the starting all-rounders is the hardest part of setting your squad for this match. I tend to favour all-rounders that bowl more as they generally score higher due to dot balls being worth one point in GDS. However, I think this is a match where the batting arounders should be favoured more so than the bowling all-rounders. I’m expecting all these four all-rounders to bowl more than the other all-rounders that are predicted to play except for Logan van Beek. I believe we will see de Leede, Ahmed and Ackermann all bat inside the top six. Khan is also a must start as he is likely to bowl a decent number of overs no matter which way the coin toss goes.
If you don’t have these four players in your squad, I have ranked the remaining all-rounders for Netherlands and Pakistan in the following order. Logan van Beek, Mohammad Nawaz, Vikram Singh and Roelof van der Merwe.
Bowlers
The three bowlers that I’m likely going to start will be Shaheen Afridi. Haris Rauf and Ryan Klein. Over the last ten matches these players average the following points based on the GDS scoring.
Shaheen Afridi – 85 points
Haris Rauf – 82 points
Ryan Klein – 61 points
The two Pakistan quicks are the best bowler options in this match by a long way in my opinion. I think they will really challenge the Dutch batters and have early success. The third spot I’m not sold on at all but lean towards Klein. In the CWC qualifying tournament he bowled 52 overs across six games, and this was more than any other bowler from the Netherlands. Looking at his batting stats, it’s not pretty reading but he does fair better than his fellow teammates Ahmad and van Meekeren with the bat in hand. He is also predicted to come in at seven and I think the Netherlands will need all the help they can get with the bat.
If you don’t have these three players in your squad, I have ranked the remaining bowlers for Netherlands and Pakistan in the following order. Paul van Meekeren, Hasan Ali and Shariz Ahmad.
Wicket Keeper
We have the option of either Mohammad Rizwan, Scott Edwards or Wesley Barresi to start in our squad for this match. Over the last ten matches these players average the following points based on the GDS scoring.
Mohammad Rizwan – 56 points
Scott Edwards – 55 points
Wesley Barresi – 34 points
I’m ruling out Barresi as he will only be batting and not behind the stumps. Edwards is the Netherlands captain and will be captaining the team from behind the stumps. Even though he averages nearly the same as Rizwan over their last ten ODIs, I’m going to be starting Rizwan above him. Solely because I think Rizwan provides more upside with a bat in a team that is predicted to win the match.