The second match of the tournament will be played between Pakistan (PAK) and Netherlands (NED). It will be amazing to see both the teams as none of the players in both the squads played any matches in India.
Pakistan (PAK) Analysis:
The record of Pakistan in the World Cup in India is not so good as they didn’t win any game here. They definitely want to change the stats here.
One of the main tensions for the team is the out of form Fakhar Zaman. He started the year pretty well but as the days passed by he was seen struggling to score runs. This inconsistency makes the PAK top order in chaos. While Imam-ul-Haq gives stability with his consistency. He is the player who can switch gears according to the situation easily. Babar Azam whose Asia Cup tournament was not that good and he definitely wanted to change the stats in his batting. In both the practice games he batted brilliantly and scored half centuries with a great strike rate.
Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed will strengthen the middle order. Rizwan already scored a century in their first practice match. He was also looking in great shape. Iftikhar also played crucial roles in the middle overs. Saud Shakeel who makes his comeback will definitely try to show his hands with the bat.
Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan will handle both the departments of batting and bowling. These two players are the main spinners of the team. Especially Nawaz who can bat with a good strike rate in the death overs. Shadab on the other hand is more consistent with the bowl than the bat. Salman Agha is the next all rounder team, but the experience Nawaz and Shadab possess makes it will be hard for him to make his entry into the 11.
One of the strongest pace attacks in the world’s cricket is having in the Pakistan team. But unfortunately one of their main seamers Naseem Shah who got injured during the Asia Cup will be missing. He is brilliant in the middle overs. Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf will tackle the batters with their sheer pace and unplayable swing. Afridi especially is more dangerous in the starting overs and it will make batters struggle against him. Rauf is little looking out of form in the recent few matches but will definitely want to change the rhythm during the first match.
Hasan Ali was included into the team in place of Naseem Shah. he played the practice matches where he showed great stability in his bowling and might be one of the dangerous in terms of bowling. Mohammad Wasim Junior and Usama Mir also might assist the previous pace bowlers.
Predicted Playing 11:
Babar Azam ©, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali.
Netherlands (NED) Analysis:
NED enters the main stage after clearing the qualification along with Sri Lanka. They were defeated by Sri Lanka in the finals but gave a tough fight to them.
Vikramjit Singh, a well prominent opener for the team, always gives his team a great start. He is one of the main pillars of the team. The other opener of the team Max O’Dowd who joined the team in 2015 had a good record in ODIs but still to score a century in this format. He will definitely want to score in this tournament. Scott Edwards, the skipper who took charge in recent times shows his great skills of captaincy and took his team to the World Cup. He always gives a proper stability to the team.
The oldest player in the squad Wesley Barresi who wears the gloves behind the stumps will strengthen the team with his experience in the international circuit. He was born in South Africa and played for Netherlands later on. Bas de Leede a pure hitter of the ball who played brilliantly in the death overs. His father Tim de Leede already played three (1996,2003 and 2007) World Cups for Netherlands. Both of them will be the seventh father-son duo who will feature in World Cups.
Colin Ackermann is also a good player of destruction and can easily take the scoreboard high within a few balls he plays. Reolof van der Merwe, previously played for South Africa now for NED has vast experience in the international circuit as he also plays IPL (Indian Premier League) here, which will ultimately benefit the team.
Logan Van Beek, earlier played for New Zealand is a prominent pacer from the side and gives break through for his team early on. Paul Van Meekeren another pacer who played a lot of county matches in England and his experience will help the team in this format.
Aryan Dutt the young lad off breaker who shows his potential in the recent matches he played as he disturbs the batters with his spin and will be key asset to the team in this tournament. Shariz Ahmed, the other spinner who is a specialist leggie joined the team in the last year and showed his potential in the few matches he played.
Predicted Playing 11:
Scott Edwards, Vikramjit Singh, Max O’Dowd, Wesley Baressi, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Logan van Beek, Saquib Zulfiqar, Reolof van der Merwe, Paul van Meerkeren, Aryan Dutt.
Pitch and Weather Analysis:
The match will be played at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. In the warm matches already it shows how hard the batters will be. Therefore again a high scoring match is expected as the batters can bat easily here. Weather will be pleasant with constant heat in the daytime.
Best 11:
Mohammad Rizwan, Scott Edwards, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Shadab Khan, Bas de Leede, Reolof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf.