Pakistan and Bangladesh renew their rivalry in a crucial ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 clash at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday. This will be the 39th ODI meeting between the two passionate cricketing nations from the subcontinent. Pakistan has historically dominated the matchup with a commanding record of 33 wins compared to Bangladesh’s 5 victories, along with one no result.
Both teams come into this match desperate for a victory after demoralizing defeats in their previous fixtures. Pakistan suffered a gut-wrenching 1-wicket loss to South Africa, while Bangladesh were thrashed by 87 runs against Netherlands. The Pakistanis have a better all-round balance, but Bangladesh will be hoping home advantage in India gives them a boost. With valuable points at stake, fans can expect a thrilling contest between two talented teams.
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Pakistan Overview
Pakistan has named a strong 15-member squad for the World Cup, led by veteran all-rounder Shadab Khan. The batting lineup has immense potential with the likes of skipper Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman, but consistency has been lacking. The bowling attack is world-class, especially the pace trio of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Wasim Jr. Spinners Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz provide quality spin options.
Pakistan will hope their batters can finally fire in unison during this tournament. Babar needs support from the middle order of Saud Shakeel and Iftikhar Ahmed. Mohammad Rizwan is due for a big score at the top. The bowlers have performed admirably so far and need to maintain pressure. Overall, Pakistan certainly has the team capable of lifting the trophy, but improved batting performances are crucial.
Bangladesh Overview
Bangladesh has named a balanced squad for the World Cup led by veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. The batting unit is filled with experienced T20I campaigners like Liton Das, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain and Mahmudullah. The bowling attack features the world-class pace of Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed, supplemented by quality spinners in Mehidy Hasan and Mahedi Hasan.
However, Bangladesh have surprisingly underperformed so far in their World Cup matches. The batting has misfired badly, with too much pressure on the bowlers. Senior batters like Liton Das and Shakib Al Hasan must step up during the middle overs. The spinners also need to provide more control to suffocate opposition batting lineups. Bangladesh has the raw talent, but much better execution is required for them to get back to winning ways in this tournament.
Pakistan vs. Bangladesh Starting XI
Expected Starting XI for Pakistan:
- Abdullah Shafique
- Imam-ul-Haq
- Babar Azam (c)
- Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
- Saud Shakeel
- Shadab Khan
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Shaheen Afridi
- Mohammad Wasim Jr
- Haris Rauf
Expected Starting XI for Bangladesh:
- Tanzid Hasan
- Litton Das
- Najmul Hossain Shanto
- Shakib Al Hasan (c)
- Mushfiqur Rahim (wk)
- Mahmudullah
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz
- Mahedi Hasan
- Taskin Ahmed
- Mustafizur Rahman
- Shoriful Islam
Pakistan has a strong top order but middle order concerns. Babar and Rizwan need to build platforms. For Bangladesh, senior pros like Shakib and Mushfiqur must step up. The key battle could be between the Pakistani pacers and Bangladesh’s top order.
See the confirmed starting lineups below an hour before the match starts.
Pakistan vs. Bangladesh Head-to-Head
Pakistan completely dominates the head-to-head record against Bangladesh in ODI cricket. The two teams have met 38 times previously, with Pakistan winning 33 matches compared to Bangladesh’s 5 victories.
Pakistan has won the last two ODI meetings against Bangladesh. Their last defeat came back in September 2018 in Abu Dhabi. Pakistan also has a commanding 1-1 head-to-head record in World Cup matches versus Bangladesh.
Some leading individual performers in this rivalry include Pakistan’s Babar Azam, who has scored over 100 runs in 3 matches at 38 average against the Bangla Tigers where his highest score was 96 runs. Wicket keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan has 147 runs against Bangladesh at 47 average in 4 matches..
For Bangladesh, star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has scored the most runs – 606 runs in 17 innings at 43+ average with 1 century and 5 fifties. He also has the best bowling figures against Pakistan with 21 total wickets in 17 innings. Mustafizur Rahman has picked up 9 wickets in just ODIs versus Pakistan.
Based on past records, Pakistan clearly has the upper hand against Bangladesh. However, the Bangla Tigers could be dangerous in home conditions if their senior players fire.
Weather & Pitch Report
The Pakistan vs Bangladesh World Cup match will be played at the iconic Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata. The weather forecast predicts hot, humid conditions for match day with temperatures around 31 degrees Celsius. Humidity levels are expected around 61% which could be somewhat uncomfortable for players.
The pitch at Eden Gardens is usually excellent for batting in ODIs. The ball comes nicely onto the bat allowing strokeplay. Shorter square boundaries also encourage big hitting. Teams batting first typically aim for 300+ totals at this venue.
However, the pitch does offer some assistance to the faster bowlers with the new ball. Seamers who can swing the ball get some early movement. Spinners come into play as the ball gets older, but it doesn’t turn prodigiously.
Dew could play a role in the evening when making gripping the ball difficult for bowlers. Considering the batting-friendly nature of the surface, we can expect a high scoring game decided by which batting unit performs best. The team winning the toss should look to bat first and post a big total.
Pakistan vs. Bangladesh Prediction
Based on the team strengths and past records, Pakistan rightly go into this match as favorites to win against Bangladesh. The Men in Green have a far superior head-to-head record, and their squad possesses better balance with a world-class bowling attack.
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are due for big scores at the top, while the likes of Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah and Iftikhar Ahmed must provide stability in the middle order. Pakistan’s battery of pacers and spinners have enough variety to trouble any batting lineup.
For Bangladesh, the over-reliance on Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim remains a concern, while Liton Das and Afif Hossain must convert starts. The bowling attack looks too one-dimensional to contain a strong Pakistani batting unit.
Considering Pakistan’s recent domination of the head-to-head record and Bangladesh’s poor World Cup form, the Men in Green should be able to claim a vital win. Their batters are due for runs, while the bowlers can restrict Bangladesh’s unsettled batting order.
Pakistan vs. Bangladesh Betting Tip
My betting tip for this match is to place a bet on Pakistan to win. At odds of 1.30, they are a decent pick considering Bangladesh’s struggles and Pakistan’s superiority in the matchup.
Another good bet is on Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan to score over 40 runs. Rizwan is due for a big score, and at odds of 1.83 this seems an achievable total if he gets settled.
For a higher risk option, consider picking Babar Azam to score a century. Though he has struggled so far, Babar is too good a player to stay out of form for long. At attractive odds of 3.25, Azam could provide a big payout if he finally recaptures top batting form.
In the bowling markets, backing Shaheen Afridi to take 2 or more wickets could be a wise pick. His recent performances warrant odds far lower than the current 2.37.
Pakistan also has a good chance of winning with a bonus point, so consider betting on them to win by over 50 runs or 4 wickets. This could give odds around 2.60.
With questions around Bangladesh’s form, it seems wise to back Pakistan’s superior quality in this crucial World Cup tie. Betting on their key batters and bowlers could provide good value.
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If you want to check out our other Cricket World Cup match predictions, you can find them on our site. In the meantime, you can check out how to bet on the Cricket World Cup.