Pakistan will take on Nepal in the tournament opener of the 2023 Asia Cup on August 30 at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan. Here is the today’s Asia Cup live scores, along with updated scorecard, match statistics, playing XIs, toss updates and more.

Pakistan v Nepal
Asia Cup 2023, Match 1
August 30, 2023, 2:30 pm local time
Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan

PAK vs NEP, Asia Cup 2023 Match 1: Toss

Toss yet to take place.

PAK vs NEP, Today’s Asia Cup 2023 Match 1: Live score

PAK vs NEP, Asia Cup 2023 Match 1: Team news

Pakistan are coming off a 3-0 whitewash against Afghanistan and will be in high spirits. The top four and bottom three of their XI are settled. It is the lower middle order where they are yet to lock in who their first-choice players are, except for Shadab Khan.

Pakistan’s depth in fast bowling was on display in the third ODI of the series against Afghanistan where they rested Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah. Given the number of high-profile games coming up, they might be tempted to do the same against Nepal and continue with Mohammad Wasim Jr and Faheem Ashraf.

Nepal will be bolstered by the arrival of leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane, who is in the middle of a rape trial, the hearing for which has been postponed until September 7. They will be led by 20-year-old batter Rohit Paudel, who has been Nepal’s highest run-scorer in ODIs this year so far.

🇵🇰🤝🇳🇵@iMRizwanPak interacts with the @CricketNep players in Multan.#AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/MDcyO6oHFY

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 28, 2023

Pakistan vs Nepal, Asia Cup 2023 Match 1: Predicted Playing XIs

Pakistan XI: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jr

Nepal XI: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Kaushal Malla, Rohit Paudel (c), Bhim Sharki, Dipendra Airee, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Sandeep Lamichhane, Karan KC, Lalit Rajbanshi

Match prediction

This will be Nepal’s first ODI against Pakistan, who are currently the No.1 ranked ODI team in the ICC rankings. While Nepal have done well in ODIs this year – won 15 out of 20 games – this will be a different ball game altogether. Pakistan will start as the firm favourites, while Nepal will probably be pleased if they are able to compete.

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