Australia take on Bangladesh at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Saturday. Both these teams will feel that they can get the better of the other, but it will not be easy for Bangladesh. Australia start as favourites, but they must keep in mind Bangladesh's formidable spin bowling attack. Australia, for their part, have come with Adam Zampa as their sole spinner in the World Cup. All-rounder Glenn Maxwell has provided some comfort in the middle overs, but it was Zampa who has given them some leeway on the turning surfaces of India.
Probable Playing XIs
Australia: David Warner, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood.
Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Tanzim Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam.
Key Players
David Warner: David Warner is in charge of getting Australia off to a good start. His aggressive nature with the bat in hand helps the Aussies set up big totals when batting first and chasing well, too.
Shakib Al Hasan: Skipper Shakib Al Hasan is perhaps the best player on offer for Bangladesh. With the ball in hand, he can spin a web around the opposition batsmen.
Match Prediction
Australia are the downright favourites to win this game. Bangladesh are not quite expected to stand up to the challenges put forth to them by the Aussies on Saturday.
England vs Pakistan Match Prediction, ICC ODI World Cup 2023, 11.11.2023
Pakistan, back at their favoured haunt of the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, will hope to resurrect their World Cup campaign and qualify for the semifinals of the World Cup. But, it will not be easy for them. For Pakistan to qualify for the semis, some results regarding Australia and New Zealand must go their way. England, who are already out of the race, will play their last game of the tournament. They will have a lot of motivation to walk out with as much pride as they can. They will be geared up to take Pakistan on, and not give them any freebies at all.
Probable Playing XIs
England: Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (c and wk), Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam Ul Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Usama Mir, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf.
Key Players
Jos Buttler: England skipper Jos Buttler has not had a very good time this World Cup. Yet, if he manages to get going on Saturday, Pakistan will be in for a shock. Buttler has the skill to play unconventional shots.
Babar Azam: Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is surely the best batsman in their lineup. He has not quite been able to score match-winning knocks so far. If he manages to put England under pressure, they are likely to wilt.
Match Prediction
Given how the defending champions have performed in this World Cup, Pakistan will be the favourites in the game. The latter have struggled to play quality cricket. Still, England will try to do their best to change this impression.