Pakistan were in for a rude shock as the Netherlands inserted them in their opening match of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, on October 6, Friday. The Dutch won the toss and elected to bowl first, with the decision turning out to be an accurate one as Pakistan lost their first three wickets inside the PowerPlay itself.
Pakistan’s openers looked ill at ease right from the word go and the procession began with Netherlands’ lynchpin Logan van Beek dismissing Fakhar Zaman (12 off 15 balls) in the fourth over. Pakistan fans must’ve had high hopes from their talismanic captain and No. 1 ranked ODI batter, Babar Azam. However, it was not his day as Colin Ackermann managed to give Pakistan a hammer blow by dismissing their skipper for just 5.
Imam-ul-Haq couldn’t pull off the rescue operation either, bounced out by Paul van Meekeren as Pakistan were reduced to 53/3 in 11 overs.
Just 32 runs between Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam today, all falling to Netherlands inside 10 overs 😮https://t.co/bO5Cxj4bcy #NEDvPAK #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/sqbQK1eDfy
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 6, 2023
