Preview: Last chance saloon as Pakistan and Netherlands fight for T20 World Cup survival

The T20 World Cup Standings

Netherlands and Pakistan go head-to-head in Perth, looking to register their maiden points of the Super 12 after successive defeats in their opening fixtures. With both teams' hopes of progression to the semi-finals hanging by a thread, victory is an absolute must if they are to keep their faint chances of survival alive.

Following Thursday's shock defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe, Babar Azam's men head into their third match knowing that their future in the tournament is beyond their control.

However, if they are to stand any chance, it remains essential for them to win all three of their remaining fixtures.

“We are as hurt as any cricket fan would be,” Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf said in his pre-match media conference.

“The tournament is not finished for us and we can still make a comeback, we have three games left and we are confident of doing well.

“We have analysed our mistakes and will do better. We are focused on our cricket and not listening too much to what is being said outside."

The equation remains the same for the Netherlands, who are also winless and sit bottom of the group due to an inferior net run rate. Having taken Bangladesh close in their opening Super 12 fixture, India proved to be a sterner test as the Netherlands batters fell 56 runs short in their chase of 179.

Sunday's meeting marks only the second contest between these two sides in the game's shortest format. In their previous encounter, the two sides met at Lords during the 2009 edition of the T20 World Cup, with Pakistan cruising to a conclusive victory of 82 runs in a campaign that saw them crowned champions.

Netherlands: Max O'Dowd, Vikramjit Singh, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Tom Cooper, Scott Edwards (c & wk), Tim Pringle, Logan van Beek, Shariz Ahmad, Fred Klaassen, Paul van Meekeren

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shaheen Afridi

Max O'Dowd

The Netherlands' top scorer at the 2021 T20 World Cup, Max O'Dowd, has once again led by example with the willow, having registered 153 runs at an average of 38.25. More runs from the opener will be crucial if the Dutch side are to record a famous victory in Perth.

Babar Azam

The tournament's leading run scorer a year ago, Babar Azam has yet to get going in Australia. With scores of 0 and 4 in the opening two matches, the Pakistan captain needs a score to his name. Hungry for runs, the Netherlands attack will have to be wary of the Pakistan opener.

**Captaincy Pick:**Shan Masood

The only reliable source of runs for Pakistan to date in the tournament, Masood requires far greater support from the rest of the batting lineup. In his knock of 52* off 42 balls against India, the number three showed immense composure in hostile conditions to lead the team to a challenging total. Whilst his efforts have yet to translate into points on the table, he and his teammates will look to rectify this come Sunday.

**Must-Have Pick:**Mohammad Wasim

Drafted into the team for Pakistan's second match, Wasim excelled in his T20 World Cup debut. Returning excellent figures of 4/24, his career-best figures, in a spell that halted any real progress from the Zimbabwe batters. Beyond this performance, the young pacer's record over the last 12 months speaks volumes, as he's taken 28 wickets at an average of 18.21, the best average by any Pakistan bowler across the same period.

**Differential Pick:**Bas de Leede

One of the standout associate cricketers at the T20 World Cup, De Leede has performed exceptionally with the ball in hand. His nine scalps have come at an average of 14.44 and a strike rate of just 10, making him one of the most effective wicket-takers in the tournament. If he can get going with the willow, he will make an excellent all-round addition to your XI.