2023 World Cup, PAK v NED | 5 Player Battles To Watch Out For In Match 2

Kashish Chadha

image-lnd06re5PAK will take on NED in 2nd Match of 2023 WC [X.com]

Pakistan and Netherlands will lock horns in Match 2 of the ICC 2023 World Cup in Hyderabad on Friday (October 6). The 1992 champions will take on their rising associate rivals for a clash they are expected to dominate throughout. However, the Asian giants would also know they could ill afford to take the spirited Dutchmen lightly. 

Individual face-offs make for multiple interesting battles within the battle and tend to decide the end outcome of matches. The Pakistan-Netherlands match won't be short of such one-on-one tussles either. As the two teams gear up for the encounter, here at OneCricket, we analyse and bring to you five player battles to watch out for. 


Babar Azam vs Bas de Leede

image-lnd0eggfBabar Azam [X.com]

Netherlands' emerging all-round cricketer De Leede may have been in spectacular form leading into the 2023 World Cup, but the young cricketer has hadn't the best of times with the ball when facing Pakistan's modern-day stalwart Babar Azam. The bowler has failed to dismiss Babar while being taken for 42 runs in 56 deliveries.

Balls
Runs
Dismissal
Babar Azam vs Bas de Leede56 42 0



Mohammad Rizwan vs Paul van Meekeren

Pakistan's experienced wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has had a close-fought individual battle with one of Netherlands' key pacers Paul van Meekeren. The last time the two players locked horns on the field during the men's T20 World Cup last year, Rizwan could only muster nine runs off the nine deliveries he faced from Van Meekeren and was also dismissed by the promising Dutch bowler. 

Balls
Runs
Dismissal
Rizwan vs Van Meekeren 991


Vikramjit Singh vs Haris Rauf 

image-lnd0hk37Vikramjit Singh [X.com]

Pakistan's old-ball warrior Haris Rauf will be a key man in their fortunes throughout this World Cup. He is rated as one of the world's finest contemporary limited-over quicks. However, Rauf has an unsatisfying record next to his name against one of Netherlands' top-order players Vikramjit Singh. Of the 24 deliveries that Singh has faced Rauf, the promising young talent has smashed 26 runs without being dismissed. 

Balls
Runs
Dismissals
Singh vs Rauf24260


Scott Edwards vs Shadab Khan 

image-lnd0jc9tShadab Khan [X.com]

Another Netherlands player with a positive match-up to boast of against a Pakistani bowler is their skipper Scott Edwards. The earnest and skillful cricketer has dominated the Pakistani wristspinner in their limited outings. Edwards has made 17 runs off the 10 deliveries he faced from Shadab, going at a strike rate of 170 without being dismissed. 

Balls
Runs
Dismissal
Edwards vs Shadab10170


Max O'Dowd vs Shaheen Afridi 

image-lnd0k4egShaheen Afridi [X.com]

Pakistan spearhead Shaheen Afridi's dangerous new-ball prowess is expected to cause heavy damage to the Netherlands' chances. Shaheen could prove fatal for the Dutch top-order during the Hyderabad clash. And the player that Shaheen could most cause trouble to is promising batter Max O'Dowd, who struggled the last time he came face to face with Shaheen. The batter was dismissed with just a solitary run from the two deliveries Shaheen bowled at him. 

Balls
Runs
Dismissals
O'Dowd vs Shaheen
211