Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan | Source: X.com
The 44th match of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 will be played between England and Pakistan on Saturday, November 11, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
This marks the end of the road in the league stage for both teams and honestly, the tournament's a wrap for them. England bid farewell to the World Cup 2023 with just two wins in eight matches, and Pakistan needs something close to a miracle for a top-four spot.
ENG vs PAK: Match Preview
England
The World Cup 2023 is a memory England wishes to wipe clean – a complete disaster with batting and bowling failures throughout. With nothing left to win or lose, they seek to end the tournament on a victorious note, salvaging a bit of pride.
England enters this game riding high from a 160-run victory over the Netherlands. Ben Stokes stole the show with a brilliant century, and David Malan, along with Chris Woakes, showcased their batting prowess with stellar half-centuries.
Jos Buttler, the captain, and Mark Wood, the pacer, are enduring a forgettable World Cup. Struggling to replicate past successes, this serves as their final chance for them to make an impact and finish the tournament on a positive note.
Pakistan
On the other hand, with four victories in eight matches, the Pakistan team is on the brink of missing out on the top-four slot. New Zealand's convincing win against Sri Lanka has pretty much secured their place.
Pakistan enters this game with a 21-run victory over New Zealand through the DLS method. Fakhar Zaman's inclusion as an opener has revitalized their batting unit, leaving the Men in Green to ponder why they didn't utilize him earlier in the tournament.
While Pakistan's hopes of a top spot are nearly gone, they are committed to putting in their best effort against England, aiming for a big win. This also happens to be their final match on Indian soil, and they aspire to win it and derive some positives.
 "Shivani Shukla")
