Pakistan vs Netherlands Prediction: The Netherlands has not won a single game against Pakistan in the history of cricket

Pakistan and Netherlands are going head to head in the second game of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad, Rangareddy, India on 6th October. The Netherlands has not won a single game against Pakistan in the history of cricket. Who will win this game?

The Pakistani batsmen encountered considerable difficulties when facing top-quality spin bowling during the recently concluded Asia Cup. Even their highly regarded pace attack failed to meet expectations. Nevertheless, Pakistan possesses a strong pace bowling unit that is likely to rebound and perform effectively against the lower-ranked Netherlands. One of their most significant strengths lies in the presence of their captain, Babar Azam, in the middle order. His batting prowess played a crucial role in Pakistan's recent ascent to the number 1 position in the ODI ICC rankings.

Inconsistent performances from the opening batsmen have been a major concern for Pakistan in recent matches. The loss of form by Fakhar Zaman has placed substantial pressure on other established batsmen like Rizwan and Babar Azam. Pakistan's spinners also struggled during the Asia Cup, particularly when compared to teams like India. However, Pakistan possesses a formidable opening bowling combination in Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf. Another key player in the middle order is Imam ul Haq. The average number of wickets to fall per innings at this venue stands at seven, highlighting the importance of Pakistan's lower-order batting strength in case of a collapse.

Babar Azam (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-Ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi.

The Netherlands will proudly represent the Associate teams in this edition of the World Cup. However, the pertinent question remains: do they possess the requisite experience and firepower to compete with established cricketing nations? History shows that they have achieved this feat in the past. The Netherlands secured their place in the competition by finishing second in the qualifiers, outperforming full members such as Zimbabwe, West Indies, and Ireland. This marks their first appearance in the main event since 2011, which was held in the Indian subcontinent. It is the fourth time they have successfully qualified for the World Cup's main draw.

In their inaugural appearance in the 1996 competition, the Netherlands encountered challenges, losing all five matches they played. Since then, they have managed to secure a couple of victories, primarily against lower-ranked teams like Scotland and Namibia. Evaluating the recent form of the Netherlands team is challenging due to the sporadic scheduling of international cricket. Their last competitive match dates back to July. However, they did achieve notable victories against West Indies and Scotland during the World Cup qualifiers.

While the Netherlands' historical statistics may not be encouraging, the team's primary focus is gaining valuable experience by competing against established cricketing nations on the grand stage. It's worth noting that they secured a top-two finish in the World Cup qualifiers without several key players, including Roelof van der Merwe, Fred Klaassen, Brandon Grover, Timm van der Gugten, Colin Ackermann, and Paul van Meekeren. Some of these players will be part of the 2023 World Cup squad, potentially bolstering the team's prospects.

Scott Edwards (captain & wk), Vikramjit Singh, Max O’Dowd, Bas De Leede, Colin Ackermann, Teja Nidamanuru, Aryan Dutt, Shariz Ahmed, Roelof van der Merwe, Ryan Klein, Paul van Meekeren.

Interestingly, Pakistan has managed to win all six tosses in encounters between these two teams. It is anticipated that the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium will provide a fair wicket, maintaining its characteristics throughout the match. The captain is likely to favor winning the toss and opting to bowl first in this scenario. The pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad is expected to offer support to fast bowlers, particularly pacers, with some assistance in terms of seam and swing movement. However, once batsmen settle in, they have the potential to accumulate substantial runs on this surface. The ground features expansive boundaries that facilitate easy scoring of singles and twos.

Weather conditions for this game are expected to be sunny in the afternoons, with temperatures hovering around 30 degrees Celsius. Winds blowing at approximately 16 km/hr are anticipated across the ground. Clear skies are forecasted for most of the match, with no likelihood of rain during the contest.

While the Netherlands has earned recognition for its qualification into the ICC World Cup 2023 main draw, they are not expected to pose a significant challenge to Pakistan in this game. Pakistani players possess a better understanding of playing conditions in the Indian subcontinent, providing them with a competitive advantage. Our prediction favors Pakistan to emerge victorious in this match.