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Pakistan had a strong start in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023, easily defeating the Netherlands and Sri Lanka. However, they faced setbacks against tougher opponents like India and Australia.
These consecutive losses have left Pakistan with little room for error as they aim to secure the six victories required to advance to the knockout stage of the Cricket World Cup.
Afghanistan presents a timely opportunity for Pakistan, as they need to regain their form quickly. Afghanistan boasts an unblemished 7-0 record in their previous ODI encounters, providing a confidence boost for Pakistan.
In most of their previous matches, Pakistan has comfortably defeated Afghanistan. However, just two months ago, they had a close encounter in a 50-over match, where Afghanistan amassed 300 runs, with openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran making a significant impact with a partnership of 157 for the first wicket.
Although Imam-ul-Haq's composed 91 helped Pakistan secure victory, it was a nail-biting finish, with just one wicket and one ball to spare.
Gurbaz, who scored 151 in that intense match, has continued to shine on the big stage, contributing a rapid 80 against England, which set the stage for Afghanistan's impressive victory at the Cricket World Cup.
Pakistan should be cautious of the same openers potentially steering Afghanistan toward another surprising win. Additionally, the threat of spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb ur Rahman looms large in a crucial match with a lot at stake.
When: October 23, 2023, 2:00 PM IST
Where: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Teams
Afghanistan:
Afghanistan may have never beaten Pakistan in the seven ODIs the two teams have played against each other, but they have stretched them close a few times - whether it's in the last tournament or the last World Cup, and given the spin threat they pose, Chennai would be an ideal venue to believe they can end that winless run.
Pakistan:
Pakistan's World Cup caravan has moved to Chennai, and at the moment, there are issues aplenty for them to address. Batting collapses, high dot-ball percentage, low percentages of sixes, expensive returns with the new ball, lack of penetration through the middle overs, and fielding lapses to name a few.
While they would hope to find solutions soon enough to these concerns, all they are desperately wishing for now is a couple of positive results. After all, their next two games scheduled to be played in the south Indian city could play a pivotal role in deciding their fate in the competition, given how the tournament is placed at close to the mid-way point.
Squads:
Afghanistan Squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil(w), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad, Riaz Hassan, Abdul Rahman, Najibullah Zadran
Pakistan Squad: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan(w), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Agha Salman
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