ROTTERDAM: Pakistan will look to gather essential World Cup qualifying factors after they deal with the Netherlands in a three-match ODI sequence from Tuesday however should do with out star bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi.
The 22-year-old paceman suffered a knee harm on the latest tour of Sri Lanka, a worrying setback with the Asia Cup — and a gathering with outdated rivals India — arising on the finish of the month.
He has been dominated out of the primary two matches, however Pakistan skipper Babar Azam hopes he may a minimum of play some half within the sequence.
“We’re taking a couple of doctors with us to take care of Shaheen and want him to play a game against Netherlands to see if he’s fit and ready for the Asia Cup,” mentioned Azam.
Pakistan group bosses don’t wish to overload a quick bowler who has already performed 97 occasions throughout all three codecs since his worldwide debut simply 4 years in the past.
“But we have 11 trump cards. Each of them can be match winners on their day. I have faith in every one of them, whether batters or bowlers,” added Azam.
The sequence in Rotterdam was postponed on account of Covid in 2020.
It types a part of the 13-nation Tremendous League from the place the highest seven groups plus hosts India will qualify for the 2023 World Cup.
Pakistan are presently fifth with 90 factors, having crushed a formidable Australia 2-1 of their final ODI sequence at dwelling.
Failure to make the highest seven would imply having to barter a dangerous route by a qualifying competitors.
“There are important Super League points at stake which we can’t lose,” mentioned Azam.
“I think the conditions will be similar to England. The weather will be cooler so we have practised with the air conditioning on indoors, perhaps that helps simulate the conditions,” he mentioned Thursday on the group’s departure for Europe.
The 2 groups have solely performed three one-day internationals — all in multi-national occasions on the 1996 (Pakistan) and 2003 (South Africa) World Cups and 2002 Champions Trophy (Sri Lanka).
Pakistan gained all three.
After qualifying for the Twenty20 World Cup to be performed in Australia later this yr, the Netherlands are looking for an enormous elevate of their 50-over fortunes.
They’re positioned final within the Tremendous League, having gained solely two of their 16 matches with one no-result and 13 defeats.
These two wins — in opposition to Eire — adopted 12 straight losses in sequence in opposition to Afghanistan, New Zealand, West Indies and England.
England additionally smashed a world document complete of 498-4 in opposition to them in June.
However new skipper Scott Edwards believes enjoying in opposition to larger nations has helped his younger group.
“ODI cricket is still a benchmark for Associates,” mentioned Edwards, who changed Pieter Seelaar as skipper in June.
“We have got a lot of young cricketers coming through who have got exposure against England and New Zealand. I am excited for the next two, three years.
“We play Pakistan which is one other alternative to face world-class bowlers and batters and that may be a big preparation for us to fine-tune our expertise for the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia.
“It’s been an awesome summer for the players for this opportunity to play these bigger nations. There is a little bit of shame that we haven’t got some wins on the board.”
Pakistan have dropped out of shape quick bowler Hasan Ali who’s changed by rookie pacer Naseem Shah whereas Shahnawaz Dahani, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Wasim Junior are the opposite quicks within the squad.
The Netherlands, in the meantime, have recalled 38-year-old all-rounder Wesley Barresi after a three-year absence.
After the opening recreation on Tuesday, the perimeters meet once more on Thursday and Sunday.
FbTwitterInstagramKOO APPYOUTUBE
