In what promises to be a high-stakes showdown, Pakistan is all set to take on New Zealand in a crucial must-win match in the World Cup 2023, slated for tomorrow at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Following their comfortable victory over Bangladesh in their previous match, Pakistan is expected to maintain the same playing XI that secured a convincing 7-wicket win.

The Green Shirts are looking to extend their winning streak and increase their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals.

Fakhar Zaman's stellar return

The return of Fakhar Zaman into the side has proven to be a game-changer. Replacing Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar delivered an outstanding performance, scoring a remarkable 81 runs off 74 balls, including seven massive sixes.

His partnership with Abdullah Shafique, who contributed 68 runs, has solidified the top-order batting, making it unlikely that any changes will be made in this department, given their excellent form.

Expected playing XI

Abdullah Shafique
Fakhar Zaman
Babar Azam (c)
Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
Saud Shakeel
Iftikhar Ahmed
Salman Ali Agha
Usama Mir
M. Wasim Jr.
Shaheen Afridi
Haris Rauf

Do or die for Pakistan

Tomorrow's clash against New Zealand presents a do-or-die situation for Pakistan. To boost their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals, they must secure a victory in this crucial encounter.

The team is riding high on confidence after their recent triumph over Bangladesh and aims to carry the momentum forward.

Match timings

The Pakistan vs. New Zealand Cricket World Cup match is scheduled to kick off at 10:00 AM Pakistan Standard Time on November 4, 2023, at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.