Asia Cup 2023 | PAK vs NEP, Match 1 - Top Captain and Vice-captain Picks 

image-llw7bao9Babar Azam might be a key pick for the C or VC for the first match between Pakistan and Nepal (Source: Twitter)

The Asia Cup 2023 has finally arrived. The first match of the tournament will be played between Pakistan (PAK) and Nepal (NEP) on 30th August, Wednesday at 3:00 PM IST. The Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan, Pakistan will be the host for this match. Ahead of the match, in this article we will take a look at the top candidates you can select as the captain or the vice-captain for the match. 

PAK vs NEP, Match 1: Ground Analysis

In order to make the perfect captain and vice-captain we need to have a basic understanding of the ground. The wicket at Multan is generally a flat one with a tendency of being on the slower side. The batters will get value for their shots but as the innings progress, the spinners will effectively come into play. 



PAK vs NEP, Match 1: Toss Factor

Scenario : Pakistan Wins the Toss

If Pakistan wins the toss, they might look to field first and get done with the Nepal batting order as fast as possible. They will try and keep the opposition to a pretty low score so that they can chase it down quickly, earning them a high positive net run rate and also helping them make a statement as a team pretty early in the tournament. 

Scenario : Nepal Wins the Toss

On the other hand, if Nepal wins the toss, they might try and bat first. Their attempt in this case will be to bat as long as possible and then try and keep the Pakistani team on the field for as long as possible in the second innings. The fact that the Pakistan pacers might get an extra bit of help at the beginning of the second innings, as the lights are switched on might also induce them to bat first. 

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PAK vs NEP, Match 1: Top Captain and Vice-captain Choices

Scenario: Pakistan Bats First

If Pakistan bats first, the batters will be looking to put on a dominating show. With the skill sets on display for the game we can safely say that the Pakistan top-order might dominate the proceedings. In this case the top captain and vice-captain choices will be:

Imam Ul Haq

image-llw7gq52Imam Ul Haq is in good form with the bat (Source: Twitter)

The Pakistani opener has been in fine form recently. Imam notched up two half-centuries in the recently concluded series against Afghanistan. His current form and the apparent strength of the Nepal bowling line-up makes Imam a great choice as the captain or the vice-captain for this game. 

Babar Azam

When we talk about the Pakistan skipper, class is something we can be rest assured about. Babar Azam has looked in good touch in the last series scoring a couple of half-centuries. But he is short of the big knocks and will be eager to perform here. Babar looks like the most apt candidate as the captain or vice-captain for this match. 


Scenario: Nepal Bats First

In the second scenario, we consider Nepal batting first in the game. In this case the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Nasim Shah and Haris Rauf will be going all-out from the beginning to get them bundled out for as low total as possible. If Nepal survives the initial burst, as the innings progresses the Pakistani spinners - Shadab Khan and Usama Mir might also turn to br effective. 

Haris Rauf

image-llw7ic9eHaris Rauf was in excellent form with the ball in the subcontinent conditions in the recent series (Source: Twitter)

This Pakistani speedster has genuine pace behind him. Rauf looked lethal with the ball in first match of the Afghanistan series. Although the Multan wicket will be much better for batting than that particular pitch, Rauf will pose the biggest threat for the Nepal batters. 

Imam Ul Haq

If the Pakistan pacers are able to perform to their best, Nepal will not be able to put on a score that will test the whole Pakistan batting line-up. In that case, it will the top-order who will get to score the runs and hence earn you points. Keeping this and the recent form in mind, Imam looks a great choice as the captain or vice-captain in this scenario. 


PAK vs NEP, Match 1: Big Risk, Big Return Choice

Fakhar Zaman

image-llw7m0wtFakhar Zaman might be a differential pick in this game (Source: Twitter)

Fakhar Zaman has not been in the best of forms in the recent few matches. But this might be the game where he gets back his mojo. Given his current form, Fakhar will be not the captain or vice-captain of too many fantasy users. So, Zaman will be a worthwhile risk to take as the captain or the vice-captain for the match.