World Cup 2023, NZ vs PAK | Playing 11 Prediction, Cricket Tips, Preview & Live Streaming

New Zealand take on Pakistan in Bangalore (Twitter)

Pakistan and New Zealand will be at loggerheads for a must-win league stage encounter of the ICC World Cup 2023 in Bangalore on Saturday (November 4). The Asian Giants and the BlackCaps collide for a much-anticipated clash where a defeat could send the loser home while a victory would propel them through in the knock-outs race. 

Certainly for New Zealand, who have been crashed down to earth by India, Australia and South Africa now in a disappointing three-match losing streak after enjoying a stupendous winning run over England, Netherlands, Bangladesh and Afghanistan at the start. Holding a better NRR than Pakistan, a win would still secure a spot in the semifinals for the Kiwis but a loss could put them in a vulnerable spot. 

For Pakistan, it's a straight do-or-die scenario: if they lose, they are out of the tournament with just three wins and five defeats; if they win, they live to fight another day with hopes also resting on their final encounter against England and New Zealand's last match versus Sri Lanka. 

NZ vs PAK: Team Previews 

New Zealand

The Kiwis need to quickly sort out their playing combination amidst spree of injuries that have dented their spirits and campaign over the past three matches. 

The injuries to Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson added to the woes of a side reeling with uncertainty on their batting stalwart and inspirational skipper Kane Williamson, forcing the selectors to call back Kyle Jamieson.

New Zealand are desperate for a win (Twitter)

Jamieson could be a shoo-in for the Pakistan encounter, bringing his high-arm release, discipline and skill to the fore with the ball in hand apart from deepening the batting line-up with his promising utility as a lower-order batter. 

The BlackCaps need to better judge the conditions on offer, too, having faced the heat for a shocking decision to win the toss and bowl first against a South African side notorious for failed run-chases on a flat wicket in Pune in the last match. 

Pakistan 

Pakistan are back to familiar ground, needing a win at all costs to keep their hopes alive at an ICC tournament. The inexperienced and mercurial Babar Azam-led side made amends with the win against Bangladesh, but the horrors of a four-match losing streak against India, Australia, Afghanistan and South Africa may have already put paid to their chances. 

Standing at fifth with 3 wins from 7 matches now, Pakistan have to not only defeat New Zealand and England in their remaining games but do so in overly convincing fashion to somehow leapfrog the Kiwis on NRR in what is increasingly shaping up to be a scenario similar to the 2019 edition. 

Pakistan need a win to avoid elimination (Twitter)

Back then, the BlackCaps edged past Pakistan to the semifinals despite losing the league stage clash to them in Manchester and levelling on five wins over nine matches thanks to their higher NRR in the standings. 

To reverse the equation, Pakistan need their skipper Babar to regain his best mojo after enduring a dip in the tournament and produce a substantial hundred in the mold of the one he produced in grand fashion at the Old Trafford four years back. 

NZ vs PAK: Match Details & Live Streaming

NZ vs PAK: Bangalore Pitch Report

One of the highest-scoring venues in India, Bangalore plays host to an interesting face-off between New Zealand and Pakistan. Both the teams are the verge of elimination and stand desperate for a win to avoid the tournament exit, which has set the stage perfectly for a riveting clash at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. With dew no factor in a fixture that shall finish by the fag end of the afternoon, a more of a level-playing field is expected for either skill from the black-soil track. However, with the ground's tiny boundary dimensions, it would be a shock if it isn't still another run-feast. 

NZ vs PAK: Probable Playing XIs

New Zealand: Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c & wk), Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Shaheen Afridi, Usama Mir, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Haris Rauf

NZ vs PAK: Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips

NZ vs PAK: Winner Prediction

Pakistan have a reputation of packing their strongest punch when the chips are down and odds are staked heavily against them. BlackCaps should wary of the wounded Tigers in this mode for if they falter now, they could regret it for years to come. Expect a close-fought encounter where Pakistan might just edge past the Kiwis. 

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