Decision is influenced by conditions after recent rain, with team looking to take advantage of moisture in pitch
Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl against the Netherlands in the opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Captain Salman Ali Agha said the decision was influenced by the conditions after recent rain, with the team looking to take advantage of the moisture in the pitch.
“We want to make use of the conditions after the rain,” Agha said. “It is the first time I have seen so much grass on a pitch in Sri Lanka”.
He added that Pakistan had opted to field three fast bowlers along with all-rounders in their playing XI.
Netherlands captain said his side would also have preferred to bowl first.
“This is a big game for us,” he said. “We have been playing in India and Sri Lanka for the past month and a half and are familiar with the conditions here.”
The match marks the start of both teams’ campaigns in the tournament.
Pakistan has been placed in Group A with India, the United States, Namibia and the Netherlands. Pakistan boycotted their scheduled fixture against long-time rivals India and will now take on the United States on February 10 and Namibia on February 18 at the same venue.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha(c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan(wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed.
Netherlands: Michael Levitt, Max ODowd, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards(c/wk), Zach Lion Cachet, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Kyle Klein, Paul van Meekeren.
