Asia ODI Series 2023

Match 1- PAK vs. NEP

Preview

Hosts Pakistan will be looking forward to launching their campaign with a thumping win when they cross swords with Nepal in the inaugural encounter of the Asia ODI Series. The game is scheduled at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, August 30, at 03:00 PM. 

The gameplay of Pakistan in Sri Lanka against Afghanistan was quite a display of excellent cricket as they went on to win all three matches. Skipper Babar Azam will be hoping to replicate the same performance and start the season opener on a winning note.

The Pakistan side will be depending on the services of their opening pair of captain Babar Azam, and Fakhar Zaman. They are expected to build up a good partnership to make the job quite easy for the rest of the batters. The middle order will have Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed and Agha Salman to deliver runs.

In the last series, the pair of Imam-Ul-Haq and Babar Azam were consistent with the bat. Also, Fakhar Zaman would look forward to getting back his form after facing a rough patch against Afghanistan. 

The bowling side has the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah who will be relied on to bring early breakthroughs with the new ball. Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz will be the prime slow-bowling potions for the Pakistan side. 

On the other side, Nepal failed to make an impact in the World Series Qualifiers 2023 and managed to get hold of only one out of four matches played in the tournament.  Yet captain Rohit Paudel will be putting up a good fight with his side standing tall against the Men in Green.

The batting side will rely on the likes of Aasif Sheikh, Rohit Paudel, Kushal Bhurtel and Kushal Malla to deliver the most runs.

Since August 2022, Aasif Sheikh has led the charts for most runs in limited-format cricket for Nepal. In 25 ODIs, the flamboyant batsman has registered 673 runs at an average of 30.59 with one ton and five half-centuries under his belt.

The bowling department will ride on the backs of Sandeep Lamichhane, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, and Dipendra Singh Airee to deliver quick breakthroughs.

Sandeep Lamichhane has been the highest wicket-taker for Nepal in ODIs since August 20233. In 19 ODIs, Lamichhane picked up 42 wickets at an average of 20.00.

Match Details

Match: PAK vs. NEP, 1st Match, Group A, Asia ODI Series 2023

Date: Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Time: 3:00 PM

Venue: Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan

Pitch and Weather Conditions

Multan Cricket Stadium will host the first match of the Asia ODI Series 2023 between Pakistan and Nepal. Pakistan will be confident on this track keeping in mind that they have won their last five ODI matches played at this stadium.

The pitch is going to be perfect for the batting side but will also provide some assistance to the bowlers. The weather on Wednesday is going to be sunny with a moderate breeze hence will provide a perfect start to the inaugural match of the Greatest cricket tournament in Asia. 

PAK vs. NEP Squads

PAK: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir (Reserve Option).

NEP: Rohit Paudel (c), Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Bhim Sharki, Kushal Malla, Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Pratish GC, Shyam Dhakal, Sundeep Jora, Kishore Mahato and Arjun Saud.

PAK vs. NEP Probable Playing XIs

PAK: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-Ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Agha Salman, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah

NEP: Rohit Paudel (c), Arjun Saud, Kushal Malla, Kushal Bhurtel, Gyanendra Malla, Bhim Sarki, Aasif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Lamichhane, Karan KC, Sompal Kami

Match Prediction

Based on the performances of both sides, the host Pakistan will be firm favourites to win their first match against Nepal. With the likes of players including Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, and Shaheen Afridi in sublime touch the team management would look forward to a clinical performance against Nepal. Hence we back Pakistan to snatch a thumping win over Nepal at Multan in the inaugural encounter of the Asia ODI Series 2023.

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