After receiving a grand welcome in India, Babar Azam-led Pakistan is ready to start their highly anticipated ICC Cricket World Cup journey with their opening match against the Netherlands on 6 October 2023. They will face the Dutch brigade at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, where they have played and lost their warmup against New Zealand.

After failed attempts to enter in the last two instalments, the Netherlands has successfully qualified this time following a dramatic win against Scotland in the World Cup qualifiers in July. Although most cricket experts have already dubbed this game to be a one-sided affair for Pakistan, fans are ready to witness a tough challenge from the flying Dutchmen.

Cricket World Cup 2023 Pakistan vs Netherlands

📝 Pakistan vs Netherlands odds

Contrary to expectations, Pakistan failed to deliver an impressive performance in their last game against the Kiwis. However, their upcoming clash against the Netherlands is expected to be much easier, as the second-ranked Greens will face the 15th-ranked Dutch side. The difference in the current ICC team ranking is one of the reasons why the best cricket betting sites are now in straight-out favour of Pakistan. The current odds are as follows:

Rajabets

LiliBet

Bettilt

BetShah

Sportsbet.io

🔮 Pakistan vs Netherlands predictions

Pakistan is undoubtedly the clear favourite for this game, as their World Cup squad is star-studded with batsmen like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq. The pace power of the Greens is equally competent with Shaheen, Rauf and Hasan Ali to take charge even in challenging situations.

In terms of statistics, Pakistan and the Netherlands are miles apart. While the Greens have 3 batsmen and a bowler in the current ICC Top 10 ranking, the most experienced player of the Dutch side, Scott Edwards, has played just 38 ODI matches till now. Their best bowler, Logan van Beek, has played only 25 ODI matches, taking 34 wickets in total.

On the other hand, Pakistani skipper Babar Azam has an excellent track record against the Dutch side. He scored 222 runs in total, averaging 74 in just 3 ODI matches he ever played against them. Fakhar Zaman also performed well against the Dutchess and scored 138 runs with a 46 batting average and a century in 3 ODIs.

📊 Pakistan vs Netherlands key stats

  • Pakistan faced the Netherlands in 6 ODI matches till now. They won 6 out of 6 matches with a 100% success rate. The Falcons scored a 3-0 clean sweep in last year’s Pakistan tour of the Netherlands. They also defeated the Dutch side by 9 runs in their latest faceoff on 21st August 2022.
  • Out of 114 ODI matches the Netherland cricket team has ever played, they won just 39, that too primarily against small teams. Pakistan, on the other hand, is known as the giant killer in top-tier competitions. They reached the quarterfinals in the 2015 edition and the semi-finals in the 2011 edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup.
  • Babar and Imam are expected to deliver great batting performances, while the presence of Iftikhar Ahmed in the middle order will make the lineup even stronger. Talented Dutch openers Max O’Dowd and Vikramjit Singh are also expected to build some resistance against the lethal pace attack of the Pakistani side.
  • Rajiv Gandhi Stadium has a batting pitch, where Pakistani batters will have an advantage as deliveries will come straight to the bat. This pitch also witnessed some inward swings in the second innings of the last match, which can give seamers like Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf an edge.
  • Hyderabad will witness up to 30°C temperature with 56% humidity on match day, which will be a bit discomforting for the Dutch players. On the contrary, Pakistan is accustomed to playing in warm subcontinental weather conditions and is expected to perform well.
2023 Cricket World Cup betting tips

Pakistan vs Netherlands betting tips

If Pakistan wins the toss and elects to bat first, it will not be difficult for them to score 350+ runs on this batting surface with their outstanding lineup. The trio of Pakistani bowling attack, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Hasan Ali, can easily defend that run with their deadly Yorkers, inswingers, and edge-deflecting outswingers. However, nothing is certain in the World Cup, and putting a stake in alternate markets with better predictability is always recommended. The best Cricket World Cup betting offers from our team of cricket experts for this match are as follows.

Pakistan to become “Team with Top Batters” – 1.19 odds (Rajabets)

Pakistan will likely handle the Dutch pacers well, as orange jerseys rarely clocked above 135 KM/Hour in top-tier competitions. They are highly unlikely to get any swing advantage while having a 13 KM/hour wind speed this Friday. The Netherlands will possibly play with three pacers and two spinners to ensure bowling variety, which Pakistani batters can clearly take advantage of.

With a batting-friendly pitch on their side and a strong bowling support to defend runs, the Pakistani batting lineup looks promising and confident. However, out-of-form Fakhar Zaman will possibly be replaced by Abdullah Shafique to ensure a strong opening-line partnership and left-hand-right-hand combination with talented Imam-ul-Haq. 

Current World No.1 batter Babar will come first down with top-order support from Saud Shakeel and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. Tailenders like Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, and Iftikhar Ahmed can also get some quick runs when needed, especially in death overs.


🏏 Chose Pakistan to become the “Team with Top Batters” at 1.19 with Rajabets 🏏

Pakistan to become “Team with Top Bowlers” – 1.21 odds (LiliBet)

After staying on the bench during the warmup match, Pakistan’s key bowler Shaheen Afridi will be back this Friday with his lethal pace and deadly swings. This 6-foot-6-inch lefty pacer is the current talk of the town, as he was noted as a bowling prodigy long back during his stint with Pakistan’s U-16.

Shaheen has been in great form since the last two cricket seasons, as he is constantly delivering iconic performances for PSL side Lahore Qalandars and English county sides Middlesex and Nottinghamshire, besides the Pakistani national team. So even if the Netherlands opt to bat first, he has the prowess to stop them within 250 single-handedly despite playing on a batting pitch.

However, he will surely miss his opening bowling partner, Naseem Shah, although the Falcons are expecting top-level performances from Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali. Besides three pacers, the Pakistani side will probably play with two spinners. The all-rounder spinner Shadab Khan will take the lead, while newly introduced Usama Mir is also expected to get some quick turns in the later part of the game.


🏏 Select Pakistan to become the “Team with Top Bowlers” at 1.21 with LiliBet 🏏

Pakistan to win the match by 10 wickets or 89.5+ Runs – 3.1 odds (22bet)

There can be two scenarios depending on the toss. If Pakistan wins and elects to bat first, they can score 350+ in this batting-friendly pitch with their impeccable batting lineup. The Falcons can even try to fetch 400+ to set a record at the ICC World Cup.

Pakistani bowling line, in their second innings, has sufficient talent and experience to hold the Dutchess under 250, securing their win with 100+ runs. They can also aim for a bigger margin, as they have recently defeated Nepal by 238 runs at the Asia Cup.

If the Netherlands bat first, they will face the hot and humid weather conditions in Hyderabad, which they are not accustomed to. On the other hand, Pakistani bowlers, with their subcontinental weather training, will get some quick wickets to end the Dutch innings below 150-180. 

Pakistani openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq have the credibility and track record to chase 180+ runs in the opening partnership. So, fans are now hoping that Pakistan will win the match without losing any wickets, even if they bowl first.


🏏 Pick Pakistan to win by 10 wickets or more than 89.5 runs at 3.1 with 22bet 🏏

📺 How to watch Pakistan vs Netherlands at the 2023 Cricket World Cup

  • Location: Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad (Telangana), India
  • Date and time: Friday, 6 October 2023, 14:00 IST
  • How to watch: Watch this World Cup match live on Sportsbet.TV (Sportsbet.io initiative) and Pure Win. Indian fans can also enjoy this match live on the Star Sports TV channel.

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

  • Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
  • Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
  • Never chase their losses
  • Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed

Read our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices.

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to Cricket Times. 18+. T&Cs apply. 

About the Author:
ADRIAN BENN
Adrian Benn is a skilled content writer and a huge lover of cricket, who has a deep knowledge of the game. He has a remarkable talent for narrating the stories behind every cricket event, from the players to the matches. Adrian also enjoys reviewing sportsbooks in his spare time and tells readers exactly what they’ll find at each and every betting site in India. From a young age, Adrian has played cricket as a sport and still enjoys doing so on weekends. Needless to say, his writing style is both captivating and insightful, earning him praise from both cricket enthusiasts and experts. You can follow Adrian on Linkedin (@adrian-benn).