Pakistan vs Bangladesh Prediction: Defeat can dampen semi-final hopes

Pakistan and Bangladesh are going head to head in the 31st game of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Eden Garden Stadium, Kolkata, India on 31st October. The teams have had terrible runs in the tournament and will have to turn things around to stay in the semi-finals race. Who will win this game?

Pakistan had a strong start to their campaign, securing victory in their first two matches with relative ease. However, their defeat to arch-rivals India on October 14 marked a significant shift in their World Cup journey, leading to a challenging period of four consecutive losses, which stands as their longest losing streak in World Cup history.

Following their recent loss to South Africa, Pakistan has fallen to the 6th position on the points table. They are now in a must-win situation for each of their three upcoming matches, essentially treating them as virtual knockout games. Even if they manage to win all three matches, their fate will still depend on the outcomes of matches played by rival teams.

In terms of batting, Pakistan has shown decent performance. Mohammad Rizwan stands out as their top scorer with 333 runs and is expected to play a crucial role in the middle order. Abdullah Shafique has been a reliable performer in the opening position, having scored two half-centuries and a century in five innings.

Babar Azam has hit top form in the past week, recording three half-centuries in his last four innings. However, the form of other batsmen, such as Imam Ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Mohammad Nawaz, has been inconsistent.

Shaheen Shah Afridi will spearhead the bowling attack with the new ball, having claimed 13 wickets thus far. Haris Rauf and Muhammad Waseem Jr. are the other two seamers in the squad. Pakistan continues to grapple with issues in the spin department, as the sole specialist spinner, Usama Mir, has struggled, conceding over 7 runs per over.

Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Haris Rauf

Just like Pakistan, Bangladesh also had a promising start with a victory over Afghanistan. Nevertheless, they subsequently faced a string of five consecutive losses, becoming the first team to be eliminated from contention for the semifinals.

This disappointing run is indicative of collective struggles, as Bangladesh has encountered difficulties in all aspects of the game. From the opening pair of Litton Das and Tanzid Hasan to the most experienced bowlers, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed, the players have lacked the determination and drive to secure victories.

Captain Shakib Al-Hasan, who was a standout performer during the 2019 World Cup, now appears to be a mere shadow of his former self, managing just 61 runs and 7 wickets in the tournament so far. Najmul Hossain Shanto, the team's most successful batsman in 2023, is averaging only 16.60 in this competition.

The seasoned Mahmudullah has emerged as the top run-scorer for the team with 218 runs. Shoriful Islam has been the most successful bowler for Bangladesh, amassing 8 wickets, while Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman have collectively taken just 8 wickets.

In the spin department, Shakib will rely on Mehidy Hasan Miraz to provide support at the other end, with Mahedi Hasan offering an additional option during the middle overs.

Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (C), Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam

Out of the 31 completed matches on this ground, teams batting first have emerged victorious in 19 encounters. As such, we anticipate that the toss-winning team will likely opt to bat first.

The pitch at the Eden Gardens typically provides a balanced contest between bat and ball. It is a hard surface with a generous grass cover, allowing the ball to come onto the bat nicely. Although the average first-inning score hovers around 235, teams batting first will aim for a total of at least 270-280 runs to exert pressure on the opposing side.

Seam bowlers who maintain discipline in their line and length will find the pitch rewarding.

The weather is expected to remain clear with warm and humid conditions, resulting in temperatures ranging from 27 to 32 degrees Celsius.

Both teams are in a poor form and have experienced a series of losses leading up to this contest. Considering the circumstances, we believe that Pakistan has a better chance of winning this match.

You may want to consider placing your bet on Pakistan for the victory.