CWC 2023: Haris Rauf and Paul van Meekeren get involved in heated battle during PAK vs NED match

Pakistan got their World Cup 2023 campaign off to a great start as they beat the Netherlands by 81 runs on Friday, October 06 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. After being put in to bat first, Pakistan were bundled out for 286 in 49 overs with Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan top-scoring with their 68-run knocks.

In reply, the Netherlands were bundled out for 205 in 41 overs with Bas de Leede top-scoring with his innings of 67 (68). Apart from the riveting cricketing action, a heated moment was also witnessed during the game as Haris Rauf and Paul van Meekeren got involved in a verbal dual.

The incident took place in the 39^th over of the second innings as Rauf bowled a bouncer to the Dutch tailender on the fourth ball of the over. Following the delivery, the Pakistan speedster walked towards the batter and said a few words. However, Van Meekeren was in no mood to just stand and listen as he also gave a reply to the fast bowler.

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Two balls later, the Netherlands’ batter also replied with his bat as he struck Rauf for a four on the off side and exchanged a few words. However, it was Rauf who had the last laugh as he dismantled his stumps in the very next over and gave him an aggressive send-off.

Watch the Haris Rauf vs Paul van Meekeren face-off here:

Haris Rauf was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan

Van Meekeren was the last wicket to fall for the Netherlands as they got all out for 205. Haris Rauf finished as the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan with figures of 3/43 in nine overs while Hasan Ali (2/33, 7 overs) also picked up two wickets.

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Netherlands’ Bas de Leede starred with both bat and ball for his side as he picked 4/62 in nine overs with the ball and scored 67 (68) with the bat. He became just the third player to score a fifty and pick a four-fer on his World Cup debut after former Zimbabwe cricketers Duncan Fletcher and Neil Johnson. Saud Shakeel was awarded Player of the Match for his knock of 68 (52) in the first innings.