ICC World Cup 2019 Match 43, Pakistan v Bangladesh: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

To qualify, Pakistan will have to bat first, score 350, and bowl Bangladesh out for 12; or score 400 and get them out for 84; or 450 and 129; and so on. And if they bowl first, they lose automatically. In other words, Pakistan are as good as out of World Cup 2019 semi-final contention.

But as commentators will keep reminding you, there is plenty to play for, especially pride. Both sides will want to bow out of the tournament on a high. And given the history – political and otherwise – between the sides, this is likely to be one of the most intense matches of this World Cup.

The Pakistan top five took too long in the tournament to settle down, and even then their openers, while formidable, have never looked menacing. They gave Shoaib Malik a thread too long. Shaheen Afridi took too long to find his mettle, Shadab Khan was inconsistent, Imad Wasim excellent in bits, but that was about it.

Led by Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh batting line-up are one of the deepest as well as deadliest in the tournament. Few teams can boast of a line-up this formidable. And yet, despite the guile of Shakib and Mustafizur Rahman, despite the uncanny wicket-taking ability of Mohammad Saifuddin, their insipid bowling has left them high and dry on too many occasions.

It is time for both sides to put things together for this one last time and deliver as a unit.

Head to head

Pakistan hold a 31-5 advantage over Bangladesh, but one needs to dig deeper into these numbers.

Bangladesh have won the last 4 matches, which includes a 3-0 whitewash in Bangladesh in 2015 and a 37-run win in the 2018 Asia Cup.

Bangladesh’s other win came at Northampton in the 1999 World Cup. It remains their only clash in the World Cup as well as on English soil.

Key players

Sarfraz Ahmed (Pakistan): Trolled for Pakistan’s lack of athleticism and enthusiasm in the first half of the tournament, Sarfraz quietly contributed behind stumps (his 12 catches are the fourth-most) and led Pakistan to three consecutive wins. He has come off with bat twice, but they were against England and Australia. With a probable axe looming, this may be do-or-die for him.

Mashrafe Mortaza (Bangladesh): Mortaza has taken a solitary wicket in the tournament. He has also bowled his full quota only once. As expected, he has been ridiculed by sections of fans. In all probability he will not play international cricket after this World Cup. It is time for Narail Express to remind the world, for one final time, why he was once Bangladesh’s finest.

Likely XIs

Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Sarfraz Ahmed (c & wk), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Afridi.

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Liton Das, Mahmudullah (if fit, otherwise Mosaddek Hossain), Sabbir Rahman, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman.

Prediction

Pakistan to win a hard-fought match.