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CWC2023: Pakistan desperate to break losing streak in do-or-die clash with Bangladesh

In a do-or-die World Cup clash, Pakistan faces an uphill battle against Bangladesh to keep their semifinal hopes alive in a high-stakes encounter

Our Web Desk Calcutta Published 31.10.23, 12:19 PM
Shaheen Shah Afridi

Shaheen Shah Afridi PTI

  • Qualification scenario: Pakistan needs 205 runs to stay relevant in the tournament; Bangladesh needs to defend it
  • OUT! And that's the end of the Bangladesh innings. Wasim yorks Mustafizur and Bangladesh is bowled out for 204.
  • BOWLED! Second wicket in the over for Mohammad Wasim as Taskin Ahmed departs fro 6 of 13 deliveries. Bangladesh 2019 in 43.3 overs. Shoriful Islam is the last man to come into bat for Bangladesh
  • OUT! Miraz departs for 25. Bangladesh reach 200 runs in 43.1 overs
  • OUT! Shakib departs for 43. Bangladesh reach 188/7 in 40 overs
  • OUT! Towhid Hridoy departs. Bangladesh 149/6 in 34 overs
  • BOWLED! Shaheen claims his third wicket as Mahmudullah departs for 56. Bangladesh 130/5. Towhid Hridoy is the next batsman in
  • 50 for Mahmudullah! Bangladesh reach 113/4 in 26 overs as he completes his 50 in 26 overs
  • OUT! Iftikar strikes as Litton Das departs for 45 of 64. Bangladesh 102/4 in 21 overs. Shakib comes in as the next batsman
  • Bangladesh 66/3 in 14 overs
  • OUT! Haris Rauf strikes as Mushfiqur departs for 5. Bangladesh 23/3 after 6 overs
  • OUT! Shanto departs for 4 as Shaheen gets his second wicket. Mushfiqur Rahim in at No. 4 today
  • Shaheen Shah Afridi becomes fastest Pakistanu bowler to reach 100 ODI wicket
  • OUT! Tanzid Hasan departs for a duck. Bangladesh 0/1 in 1 over
  • Pakistan playing XI: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Shaheen Afridi, Usama Mir, Mohammad Wasim Jr and Haris Rauf
  • Bangladesh playing XI: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam
  • Pakistan made three changes bringing in Fakhar Zaman, Agha Salman and Usama Mir in place of Imam-ul-Haq, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz
  • Bangladesh brought back Towhid Hridoy in place of Mahedi Hasan to their playing eleven
  • Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan wins toss, opts to bat first against Pakistan

All but out of semifinal race, Pakistan would be desperate to snap their four-match losing streak and add some semblance of respect to their floundering campaign when they take on an equally struggling Bangladesh in their do-or-die World Cup match here on Tuesday.

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Pakistan have just four points in their kitty and they can add a maximum of six more to touch 10 by the end of league stage.

Three teams are already above Pakistan and it would be a miracle of sorts if they make it to the knockout stage.

The multiple favourable results are highly unlikely given the fact that Australia have regained their form and New Zealand have also emerged as one of the toughest sides to beat in this tournament.

As of today India and South Africa look certain to make the cut while the Trans-Tasman rivals are looking in good shape to grab the other two spots for the semifinals.

Pakistan will not have to just win their remaining matches but they need to win with big margins to swell their net run rate (currently minus 0.205). A defeat against Bangladesh will certainly knock the 1992 champions out of the showpiece.

In such a scenario, it is expected that Pakistan players will go all-out and give their all.

At a time when their batters have failed to last the distance in four of their six outings, it's Pakistan's bowling attack that has shone through.

On a seamer-friendly Eden wicket that offered some extra bounce from short of the length during the first match on Saturday, the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Wasim will hope to hand Bangladesh the early blows.

Pakistan's biggest positive is sparkling show by Mohammad Wasim junior who made his World Cup debut in place of an indisposed Hasan Ali against South Africa.

Wasim returned with figures of 2/62 but the way he created pressure, especially at the death overs against Keshav Maharaj, was a big plus for the embattled side.

Wasim is expected to retain his place as Pakistan would look to rattle the Bangladeshi batters who have been struggling in the tournament.

Pakistan's biggest let down has been their batters who have failed to last the full quota of 50 overs on four occasions. The buck will certainly stop with skipper Babar Azam, their best batter, who has not been converting his starts into big scores.

Babar has so far struck three fifties and he could be eyeing a big score against Bangladesh.

On the other hand, all is not well in the Shakib Al Hasan-led Bangladesh camp. Their batters have failed to post big totals. In their pervious match against the Netherlands, four of their top-six batters failed to score in double digits to be bundled out for 142 in a chase of 230.

It was their sixth defeat on the trot for the Bangla Tigers.

"You can say that it's the worst World Cup without any doubt," Shakib had admitted after their 87-run loss to the Netherlands here on Saturday.

"It is hard to swallow, very difficult to digest. But these things can happen in cricket." Bangladesh have just two points from six matches and they are currently at ninth spot in the 10-team league.

The Teams (From): Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Wasim.

Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Litton Das (wk), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanto (vc), Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah Riyad, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib Match starts from 2pm IST.

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