Pakistan will begin Asia Cup 2023 against Nepal (X.com)
It's showtime. The drums are ready for action. At their home stadium, Multan Cricket Stadium, Pakistan are ready to begin the much-anticipated Asia Cup campaign on Friday, August 30, against Nepal, who will feature for the first time in the competition.
There is a 50-over World Cup right after this tournament, so the Asia Cup 2023 will be played in the ODI format. Nepal's most recent fixture was against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last month, which they won by three wickets. Pakistan, meanwhile, are fresh after sweeping Afghanistan 3-0 in Sri Lanka.
PAK vs NEP: Match Previews
Pakistan
Pakistan are obviously the clear favourites to win this match. In these conditions, the Men in Green, the No. 1-ranked ODI side in the world, possess almost every base covered in their squad, which can wreak havoc.
There are three Pakistani batsmen in the top five of the latest ICC ODI rankings, with Babar Azam topping the list with a staggering 880 rating points. The star top three will be followed by Mohammad Rizwan at No. 4 and Iftikhar Ahmed at No. 5, while Agha Salman, given his impressive ODI numbers, will come after them.
Shaheen Afridi is Pakistan's heart-throb among bowlers (X.com)
In addition, Shaheen Afridi, easily the most prolific all-format fast bowler at present, will lead the attack that will include Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Shadab Khan. Mohammad Nawaz is likely to be chosen over Usama Mir to fill the other position, especially since the former scored 30 runs and picked up two wickets in his only opportunity against Afghanistan.
Nepal
In the ACC Men’s Premier Cup during April-May, Nepal won the competition without even suffering a single defeat. The Rohit Paudel-led side cruised past the UAE by seven wickets in the competition’s final in order to qualify for the Asia Cup.
Rohit Paudel, 20, will lead Nepal in Asia Cup 2023 (X.com)
Nepal will heavily rely on Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, and Paudel, while Sandeep Lamichhane will lead the spirited bowling attack. Karan KC, who has taken 73 wickets in 46 matches at an average of 24.26, will be in focus as well.
The fact that Nepal will get there in such a short period of time should not put them under any pressure. Therefore, the outcome will be enormous if they manage to pull off a performance out of the box.
PAK vs NEP: Match Details
| Match Date | August 30, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Time | 3:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Multan Cricket Stadium |
| Live Telecast & Streaming | Star Sports Network, Hotstar |
PAK vs NEP: Pitch Report
Given that dew frequently affects matches in Multan, the toss-winning skipper will probably bowl first. The dryness of the conditions, which also provides little assistance to bowlers, makes the situation ideal for batsmen.
Pakistan vs Nepal Head to Head in ODIs
There has been no meeting between Pakistan and Nepal in any format of the game, not just in ODIs. Consequently, this should be the first match between the two Asian nations.
Pakistan vs Nepal Asia Cup Probable XIs
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf
Nepal: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Gulsan Jha, Rohit Paudel (C), Bhim Sharki, Kushal Malla, Aarif Sheikh, Sandeep Lamichhane, Pawan Sarraf, Karan KC, Lalit Rajbanshi
Pakistan vs Nepal Asia Cup Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips
| Wicket-keepers | Mohammad Rizwan |
| Batters | Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Kushal Bhurtel |
| All-rounders | Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz |
| Bowlers | Shaheen Afridi, Sandeep Lamichhane, Karan KC, Haris Rauf |
Captain: Shaheen Afridi
Vice-captain: Haris Rauf
PAK: 8, NEP: 3
Pakistan vs Nepal Asia Cup Prediction
Despite Nepal’s heroics in the ACC Men’s Premier Cup, it would be wild to predict a victory in their favour against Pakistan, and that too in the opposition’s own backyard. Hence, expect a comfortable victory for Babar Azam and his boys to start things off.
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