Eden Gardens, Kolkata (Twitter)
Amidst the doom and gloom of their ICC World Cup 2023 chances, Bangladesh take on Pakistan in Kolkata on Tuesday (October 31) for not just pride but also a spot at the Champions Trophy 2025. While Pakistan are qualified as the tournament hosts, the Bangla Tigers are in serious danger of missing out.
As per an ICC spokesperson, who revealed the qualification system on Sunday (October 29), the top 7 highest finishing teams at the end of the league stage of the ongoing World Cup, plus hosts Pakistan, will make up the contenders for the eight-team competition in two years.
Having suffered five consecutive defeats now from six games, Bangladesh, placed ninth, will have to win their remaining games and hope against hope for other results to favour their quest to reach the Champions Trophy.
Their face-off against Pakistan is, therefore, a must-win one, even as their knock-out contention for the World Cup has gone down the dust after a loss to the spirited Netherlands side in the last game at the iconic Eden Gardens.
Eden Gardens Kolkata Ground Stats
The pitch at the Eden Gardens has, over time, transformed into one of the seamer-friendly destinations in the country, with pacers relishing the steep bounce and lateral movement off the deck under lights. It's why the Dutch could tame the Bangla Tigers for 142 all out in a horrible chase in the last game.
| Eden Gardens Ground Details | |
|---|---|
| Highest total | India 404/5 vs Sri Lanka |
| Lowest total | India women 63/10 vs England women |
| Total matches | 36 |
| Matches won batting first | 21 |
| Matches won bowling first | 15 |
| Average 1st Inns scores | 245 |
| Average 2nd Inns scores | 201 |
Pakistan enter the clash in Kolkata with vengeance in their minds, feeling the pain and ecstasy of a lacklustre campaign after suffering four consecutive defeats. Babar's men could well unleash their wrath on the Bangla Tigers, who need a win desperately, keeping in head the larger context.
Expect Pakistan to finally get a win on the board and progress in the league table, keeping themselves safe from the muddle in the bottom extreme of the tournament standings.
 "Kashish Chadha")
