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A sudden, intense rain shower lasting about five minutes disrupted New Zealand's training session at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday. The rain caught both the Kiwi team and the net bowlers off guard, turning the bright and sunny surroundings into a wet and gloomy scene in less than a minute. The ground staff quickly took action to address the situation. The weather forecast for Saturday, November 4, looks grim as New Zealand faces Pakistan in what could be a virtual knockout match to secure a spot in the 2023 World Cup.
Not long ago, New Zealand would have been considered clear favorites for this contest. They had a strong start with four consecutive victories, even holding the top spot in the standings. However, three consecutive losses to India, Australia, and South Africa have put them on the fringes of the qualification bracket. To simplify their path to the knockout stage, they must secure two wins in their remaining matches. Pakistan is in an even more precarious position, needing both points and favorable outcomes. They are currently in fifth place with four consecutive defeats, but a morale-boosting victory against Bangladesh revived their hopes. A win and two points are the immediate focus for both teams, although coach Mickey Arthur admitted to keeping an eye on net run rate scenarios.
New Zealand's campaign has been marred by a series of injuries to key players, starting with Kane Williamson's broken thumb shortly after his return from an ACL injury. Their bowling department is particularly affected, with Matt Henry being the latest casualty due to a grade two hamstring tear, leading to his replacement by Kyle Jamieson. Fortunately, Lockie Ferguson (Achilles), Jimmy Neesham (bruised wrist), and their regular captain have actively participated in the limited practice time allowed by the weather ahead of this crucial clash.
In this do-or-die situation, Pakistan remained composed during their three-hour practice session. Coach Arthur praised the players' calm demeanor, contrasting it with his own nervousness. He noted that the players take such pressure in stride, similar to their approach before the Bangladesh game. Pakistan's inconsistent batting department is a concern, despite their bowling unit showing signs of improvement. Fakhar Zaman returned to the opening spot and justified his inclusion with a brisk 81 in the victory against Bangladesh. However, the middle-order batters, Iftikhar Ahmed and Saud Shakeel, have not performed exceptionally, and captain Babar Azam's three fifties have only masked the team's batting issues. To secure victory, especially on a challenging Chinnaswamy pitch for bowlers, Pakistan will need a near-perfect all-round performance, even against a battered New Zealand side.
When: November 04, 2023, 10:30 AM IST
Where: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Teams
New Zealand:
Jamieson, who previously joined the World Cup squad in India as a training cover, arrived in Bengaluru on Thursday and participated in practice on the day before the match. However, he might have to bide his time, as Lockie Ferguson has regained his fitness and is likely to return to the playing eleven, potentially replacing Henry. Kane Williamson also had an extended net session and is expected to make a comeback, which could mean that Will Young might find himself on the sidelines once again.
In terms of tactics and strategy, Babar Azam has been a significant threat with his last five ODI scores against New Zealand reading 49, 65, 54, 107, 1. However, his performance in the middle overs of this World Cup has been less impressive. The Pakistan captain has had a relatively lower strike rate of 79.24 during the 11th to 40th over period, and New Zealand will aim to exploit this weakness to their advantage.
Pakistan:
Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed was seen practicing in Pakistan's nets, but the main focus remained on Shadab Khan, who has suffered his third concussion episode in the last 14 months. Shadab Khan, the Pakistan vice-captain, engaged in light fielding drills and some bowling after a medical assessment, but the team management has deferred the decision regarding his participation until the morning of the match. Pakistan, however, may decide to stick with the same playing eleven that helped them end their four-match losing streak against Bangladesh.
In terms of tactics and strategy, a crucial aspect to keep an eye on is Tom Latham's performance in the New Zealand middle-order during this World Cup, despite his modest statistics. His matchup against Shaheen Afridi is particularly interesting. The stand-in Kiwi captain has a poor average of 6.2 against the Pakistani pace spearhead and has been dismissed by him four times in ODIs. Notably, Afridi has been more effective with the older ball in the middle overs, where he averages 16.2, has a strike rate of 17.1, and has taken seven wickets between overs 11-40.
Squads:
Pakistan Squad: Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan(w), Iftikhar Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Agha Salman, Shaheen Afridi, Usama Mir, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali
New Zealand Squad: Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w/c), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, James Neesham, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Mark Chapman, Lockie Ferguson
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