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 What Is The Cricket Match Today? Playing 11, Winner Prediction

image-llwjawk2Babar Azam and deputy Shadab Khan celebrate an Afghan wicket (Twitter)

The Asia Cup 2023 is set to commence on August 30 with co-hosts Pakistan taking on Nepal. The match, a day-night affair, is scheduled to be played in Multan.

While Pakistan will enter the contest fresh from their 3-0 triumph over fellow participants Afghanistan, Nepal will enter the competition following their disastrous campaign at the ICC World Cup 2023 Qualifiers in Zimbabwe.

Ahead of the Asia Cup 2023 opener, we at OneCricket look at the possible team composition for both sides.

What is the venue of PAK vs NEP Asia Cup 2023 match?

The venue of the opening Asia Cup 2023 Group A match is the Multan Cricket Stadium in Pakistan. The surface here generally provides assistance to pacers, especially with the new ball. However, batters can dictate terms once they are settled in. The average first innings total at the venue has been 237. Captains winning the toss might opt to bowl first, considering the chasing sides have won 57 percent of their matches here.

What are the expected changes for Pakistan in Asia Cup 2023 opening match?

A day prior to their clash, the Pakistan team management announced their playing XI across PCB’s social media accounts. The team, under Babar Azam’s leadership, made quite a few changes from their third ODI against Afghanistan a couple of days ago.

The team management recalled speedsters Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf back into the playing XI after they were rested from the Afghan dead-rubber. The two will replace Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Wasim respectively against Nepal. Moreover, Iftikhar Ahmed also found his name in the XI, albeit at the expense of Saud Shakeel.

Pakistan’s playing XI against Nepal

Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf.


What are the expected changes for Nepal in Asia Cup 2023 opening match?

Arjun Saud, having kept wickets for Nepal at the ICC World Cup 2023 qualifiers, will likely be replaced by Aasif Sheikh for the tournament opener against hosts Pakistan. Captain Rohit Paudel, Gulshan Jha and limited-overs veteran Sandeep Lamichhane are considered as clear favourites to reprise their roles in the playing XI.

 Expected Nepal playing XI against Pakistan

Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Gulshan Jha, Rohit Paudel (c), Bhim Sharki, Kushal Malla, Aarif Sheikh, Sandeep Lamichhane, Pawan Sarraf, Karan KC and Lalit Rajbanshi.


Asia Cup 2023 PAK vs NEP: Winner Prediction

One can expect heavyweights and tournament hosts Pakistan to defeat Nepal in the opening match of the 2023 Asia Cup in Multan.