Gloucestershire cricketer, Paul van Meekeren, will play in Netherlands World Cup opener against Pakistan today. The 30-year-old bowler will be making his World Cup debut and hopes to get the Dutchmen off to a flyer with the ball. The Netherlands have failed to qualify for the last two World Cups and have never made it out of the group stage of the competition dating back to 1975.
Van Meekeren will be hoping to carry over his bowling form from the One Day Cup this season, taking 12 wickets in his last seven games for Gloucestershire. His opposition, however, will be of a better quality. Bowling to the likes of Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman will be the biggest test of his career.
A closer look at Pakistan:
Pakistan will be looking to improve on 2019’s showing in England, failing to make it out of the group stage. They are currently ranked number two in the world and their captain, Babar Azam is the world’s best ODI batter. Despite all this, Pakistan were on the receiving end of a 14 run defeat to Australia on Tuesday and havent won in their last four one day internationals.
Could this be the best time for the Netherlands to take them on?
Preparation has been limited in the lead up to their World Cup opener with both warm up fixtures being weather affected. Their game against Australia was abandoned in the second innings and a ball wasn’t even bowled against India on Tuesday!
Fakhar’s form and the Shadab conundrum: Pakistan have issues heading into the World Cup, writes @ovshake42.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) October 5, 2023
READ: https://t.co/NhHuSDFXu4
Player Spotlight: Vikram Singh
Born in Punjab, the 20-year-old opening batsman is vital to the Dutch success in both innings. He has an ODI batting average of 33.08 with a high score of 110. He is no slouch with the ball either. A right-arm medium pace bowler with an economy just below six is very handy.
Prediction:
This is probably the Netherlands best shot at beating Pakistan and it would be a huge victory if they manage it. BUT… the strength throughout the Pakistan bowling and batting attack should prove to much for the Dutchmen to handle. Weather could affect the game, which may well help the Dutch side but I can only see a comfortable victory for Pakistan.
