Bangladesh have had a really poor World Cup campaign so far and making the last four is looking pretty unlikely from here after a run of just one win from their six matches so far. 

But they’ll at least be looking to win two more matches from here and try to book their place in the next Champions Trophy by finishing in the Top 7. At this stage, it’s probably the best they can hope for.

As for Pakistan, it’s been an inconsistent campaign for them, but they’re still in it. 

They have just two wins from six themselves, but victory here would put them back on track. After this one, they play New Zealand, England and Australia knowing that three wins from their last four could well be enough to book their place in the semis. 

So, this is match that means something for both sides and should make for a good spectacle. 

Pakistan vs Bangladesh betting preview, odds and predictions

Pakistan vs Bangladesh odds

There are stats and betting tips coming up right now but first up, let’s consider the latest odds from the best cricket betting sites.

Sportsbet.io

Cricbaba

Rajabets

BetTilt

PureWin

Pakistan vs Bangladesh predictions

Despite being one of India’s most iconic grounds and a permanent fixture on the IPL calendar, Eden Gardens in Kolkata is rarely used for ODIs these days. 

Just one match has been played here so far this World Cup that saw the Netherlands post 229 against Bangladesh, which the Dutch defended easily, eventually winning by 87 runs. 

Other than that, Eden Gardens has only had one other ODI taking place there in the last five years, with Sri Lanka managing just 215, which India chased easily. 

The side batting first will look to post around 270 in a match where the spinners should have plenty of work ahead of them. 

In the IPL, KKR have always fielded plenty of spinners on a surface that can get a bit slow in the second innings, so it may come down to who has the best twirlers on the day. 

Pakistan and Bangladesh team updates 

Pakistan finally dropped Hasan Ali ahead of their match against South Africa- the narrowest of defeats- and the man who came in for them did a stellar job. Mohammad Wasim had figures of 2-50 off his 10 overs and is likely to retain his place. 

Usama Mir, who came in as a concussion substitute for Shadab Khan, also bowled well but assuming Shadab has been cleared to play, they’ll surely prefer his all-round skills to Mir. So, despite losing last time out, they’ll probably field the same side again. 

As for Bangladesh, they don’t have much in the way of options in the squad so are also likely to persist with the same side. It’s time for someone to really step up for them in a campaign where almost no one has covered themselves in glory so far. 

  • Pakistan Probable XI: Imam, Shafique, Babar, Rizwan, Shakeel, Iftikhar, Shadab, Nawaz, Wasim, Afridi, Rauf.
  • Bangladesh Probable XI: Tanzid, Das, Mehidi Hasan Miraz, Shanto, Shakib, Mushfiqur, Mahmudullah, Nasum, Mustafizur, Shoriful

Pakistan vs Bangladesh key stats

  • It’s been all Pakistan over the years, winning 33 of the 38 matches between them in the ODI format. 
  • They’ve never played each other in an ODI in India. 
  • 4 of Bangladesh’s 5 wins against Pakistan all came in a sequence between April 2015 and September 2018; three of those were in Bangladesh, the fourth was at Abu Dhabi. 
  • But the last time they played each other was at this year’s Asia Cup, where Pakistan chased 194 with the minimum of fuss. Haris Rauf was man of the match after taking 4-19 with his blistering pace. 
  • Pakistan’s Imam Ul-Haq has an excellent record against the Tigers with a century and two fifties in just three matches against them, averaging 87.00. 
  • Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan has played Pakistan 17 times, hitting a century and five fifties against them. 
2023 Cricket World Cup betting tips

Pakistan vs Bangladesh betting tips

Pakistan are around the 1.3 mark to win this match and that looks about right. We’ve seen that they have an extremely strong record against the Tigers in this format and despite their own struggles, man for man, they have far better players. 

Then there’s the motivation levels to think about. Shakib’s side are all but out and low on confidence, while Pakistan will have plenty of belief they can turn things around and still make the semis. 

Some may view this as a potential upset given Pakistan’s renowned inconsistency but that would require a big effort from Bangladesh. And we’re not sure they have that in them.    

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But let’s get back to the tips for this match. 

1. Imam Ul-Haq to be Pakistan Top Batsman – 4.62 odds (Maharaja Fortune)

It hasn’t been the best of tournaments for the normally reliable Imam. He’s managed just one fifty from his six games so far, a far cry from a man who averages 48 in ODIs and who has nine centuries and 20 fifties from his 72 ODIs to date.

But he’ll have few better chances to improve on his record at this World Cup than here. He’ll be opening the batting on what should be a good track and should have the time to play himself in as he goes about building a good innings. 

But more important than that though is his brilliant record against this very opposition, as highlighted in the stats section above. 

He has some good players to beat for Pakistan top batsman but the confidence of having scored so many runs against them in the past might just give him the edge at a good price. 

➡️ Select Imam Ul-Haq to be Pakistan Top Batsman at 4.62 odds with Maharaja Fortune

2. Mehidi Hasan Miraz to be Bangladesh Top Batsman – 9.6 odds (Cricbaba)

The bookies seem to be ignoring the fact that Mehedy Hasan Miraz has mostly been batting at number three this World Cup, rather than his usual position at 5 or 6. 

Even though his 144 runs only put him in fourth place for most runs scored by Bangladesh batters at this World Cup, he was their top batsman last time out. And in the first match of their campaign, his 57 was trumped right at the death by Shanto’s 59, so it could easily have been two wins from six rather than just one. 

But his game looks in good shape and if he bats at three again, will have a much better chance than his odds suggest. 

➡️ Back Mehidi Hasan Miraz to be Bangladesh Top Batsman at 9.6 with CricBaba

3. Haris Rauf to be Pakistan Top Bowler – 3.7 odds (Rajabets)

It’s perhaps no surprise that Pakistan’s star bowler is top of the wicket-taking column for the tournament. Shaheen Shah Afridi has 13 wickets and has taken at least one wicket in every game so far this World Cup. 

But his figures are a little skewed by the fact he took 5 wickets against Australia benefiting from their all-out aggression in the death overs. 

Haris Rauf has 10 wickets but looked sharp and quick against South Africa last time out, taking 2-62. 

In the last game against the Tigers, he took 4-19 and his raw pace may be more of a threat Bangladesh’s batters than Afridi’s swing and yorkers.

With a good record against them in general and at bigger odds than Afridi, Rauf looks the smart call here. 

➡️ Pick Virat Kohli Haris Rauf to be Pakistan Top Bowler at 3.7 with Rajabets

How to watch Pakistan vs Bangladesh

  • Location: Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India
  • Date and time: Tuesday 31 October 2023, 14:00 IST
  • How to watch: Watch live streaming of this heated World Cup clash on Sportsbet.TV (an initiative of Sportsbet.io) and Pure Win. Indian fans can enjoy the match on the Disney + Hotstar app for free.

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About the Author:
JAMES PACHECO
James Pacheco has been watching, writing about and betting on cricket ever since watching South Africa's ill-fated run chase against Australia in the semi-finals of the 1999 Cricket World Cup. Since then he rates the 2005 Ashes as the best Test series he's ever watched and South Africa's successful run chase of 438 against Australia as the best ODI he witnessed, seven years after that disastrous single in 1999 cost the Proteas a place in the World Cup final. His favourite-ever players are Shane Warne, Kumar Sangakkara, Jacques Kallis and Daniel Vettori. His favourite markets to bet on are the top batsman and in particular, the man-of-the-match markets, where big rewards are on offer when you get it right. He's patiently waiting for the day when Virat Kohli breaks every international batting record going. You can follow James on LinkedIn.