Pakistan aims to win all matches against Netherlands to grab 2nd position in World Cup Super League points table

Pakistan aims to win all matches against Netherlands to grab 2nd position in World Cup Super League points table

Web Desk
August 15, 2022

Pakistan aims to win all matches against Netherlands to grab 2nd position in World Cup Super League points table

Pakistan will play Netherlands in the first-ever bilateral one-day international series.
Babar Azam needs one more ton to become only Pakistan captain to score 10 tonne in ODI cricket.
Mohammad Rizwan needs 18 more runs to reach 1,000 ODI runs.

The first-ever bilateral series between Pakistan and Netherlands will start on Tuesday, August 16 in Rotterdam. The Pakistan ODI team will be led by Babar Azam. Pakistan, which is ranked fourth, will play the home team again on August 18 and 21.

The three-game series is part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League. The visiting team has 90 points and is in fifth place. The team led by Babar will try to win all three games to move up to second place in the points table.

A few important milestones are coming up for Pakistan’s best players. The best ODI player, Babar Azam, needs one more century to become the only Pakistan captain to score 10 tonnes in international cricket. Mohammad Rizwan, who keeps wickets and bats, needs 18 more runs to reach 1,000 ODI runs.

Imam-ul-Haq is second in the ICC batters’ rankings, behind his captain Babar. He will be hoping to keep up his good form after getting seven fifty-plus scores in a row in ODIs. In June 2022, Pakistan beat the West Indies 3-0 at home in a three-match ODI series. He scored 65, 72, and 62, which made him the player of the series.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, the third-best ODI bowler in the world, won’t be able to help Pakistan in the first two games because he hurt his knee.

The team on tour had their first practise at the Schiedam cricket ground, but because it was raining, they had to have their second practise indoors in Rotterdam.

Babar Azam said this about how the team got ready for the series:

“It’s great to be here in Netherlands for the first time. The weather and the hospitality is very good here and we are being looked after really well.

“I do follow Netherlands cricket and I am impressed with their passion for the game. I am very hopeful that the series starting tomorrow will go a long way to promote the game in this region.

“We will not become complacent here and the players are ready to express themselves at the ground. In the absence of Shaheen Shah Afridi, this is an opportunity for youngsters to come forward and showcase their skills.

“We are looking forward to a good contest between bat and ball and I am hopeful the fans will turn up in numbers to witness the series.”

Pakistan squad for Netherlands ODIs:

Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani and Zahid Mehmood.