New Zealand's Predicted XI vs Pakistan, Cricket World Cup 2023: Kane Williamson To Return?

New Zealand are in a spot of bother as they head into the match against Pakistan at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. The match will be played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday.

New Zealand were off to a terrific start in the tournament. The Kiwis defeated defending champions England comprehensively courtesy of centuries from Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra in their opening match. They kick-started an unbeaten spree since then, defeating Afghanistan, Netherlands and Bangladesh in the process.

However, three successive defeats to India, Australia and South Africa have put them on the back foot, also jeopardising their chances of reaching the semi-finals. Their defeat to South Africa in the last match by such a huge margin only made things worse and they now face a team who are directly threatening their top-four spot.

Powered by centuries from Quinton de Kock (114 off 116 balls) and Rassie van der Dussen (133 off 118 balls), South Africa mounted 357/4 in the first innings. The Kiwis, in response, were bundled out for 167 runs in 35.3 overs, losing the match by 190 runs, their second-biggest defeat in World Cup cricket.

With four wins in seven matches, New Zealand are still the favourites to make it to the semi-finals among these two teams, but a defeat on Saturday could turn things around.

Pakistan picked up their third win of the campaign against Bangladesh in Kolkata on Tuesday. After bowling out Bangladesh for 204 runs in the first innings, Fakhar Zaman (81 off 74 balls) and Abdullah Shafique (68 off 69 balls) steered the 1992 champions to a seven-wicket win with 17.3 overs to spare.

Here's how New Zealand might line up for this clash.

Openers: Devon Conway, Will Young

Devon Conway began the