Top Pakistani batsmen Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, and Imam-ul-Haq were dismissed within the first 10 overs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad after the Netherlands chose to bowl first.
Zaman departed early, and Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, was caught on the leg side for a mere 5 runs.
Netherlands captain Scott Edwards, during the toss, mentioned that he decided to bowl first, thinking it would be more favourable to bat under the stadium lights. He expressed optimism about the game against Pakistan, given their frequent matches in recent times.
Meanwhile, Babar Azam highlighted Pakistan’s ambition to set a challenging score of 290-300.
This marks the seventh ODI confrontation between Pakistan and the Netherlands. Their first encounter was during the 1996 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, with Pakistan emerging victorious in all previous matches.
Last year, Pakistan visited the Netherlands for their inaugural bilateral series, where Pakistan claimed a decisive victory.
Entering the current 50-over World Cup, Pakistan is viewed as a top contender, given their commendable record from the recently completed World Cup cycle – boasting the highest win-loss ratio of 2.400 with 24 triumphs in 36 games.
Pakistan’s consistent performance can be attributed to the stability provided by its key players over the years.
