ICC World Cup 2023: Pakistan v Afghanistan | Match 22 | Chennai | 23 October | Pakistan Innings

[PakPremi]

Four spinners for Afghanistan, one too many as if Pakistan play spin well today then there will be no variety in the attack. Pitch should favour spinners so let's see what happens.

 

[Thanos]

A bit confused.
Afg captain shouted HEADS, referee said TAILS is the call and it's heads.

Or may be I heard it wrong. (No conspiracy theory from my side)

 

[BouncerGuy]

Pakistan has to face 40 overs of spin. That will be a huge task here.

 

[JattMaula]

Massive toss to win for Pakistan!


And shady Shaddy is back on a spinning pitch.

 

[160KPH]

It would do a lot for confidence if we can have a solid win! Last few matches against Afghanistan have been close.

 

[Devadwal]

Afganistan is playing with four spinners .
40 over of spinners

 

[shah_1]

Pakistan are really poor against spin, 4 spinners in this match. Truly a test for them.

 

[PakPremi]

Doubt Nawaz actually has a fever, why did Babar have to lie about it?

They always say that when they leave a player out not to undermine them in public.

 

[mrtaim3]

This is a world cup final for Afghanistan.

Every Afghan I know has had this date marked in their calendar since the games were announced.

They hate us to the core so i'm not surprised. But they will lose today as well.

 

[chinaman00]

The BCCI has always been mischievous but they have outdone themselves here. They are using the same pitch from the last match and according to some commentators, today’s pitch will be turn more by Chennai standards.

Only way for Pakistan team to respond to the BCCI’s petty tactics is to win, and win comprehensively.

 

[mrtaim3]

Pakistan are really poor against spinner, 4 spinners in this match. Truly a test for them.

Pakistan need to play how their predecessors used to play. Use the feet, kill the spin.

 

[160KPH]

1.25pm It is pretty breezy there at the moment, reports Pommie Mbangwa. Aaron Finch says "there's not a blade of grass" on the pitch, and thinks this could be among the slowest of pitches even by Chennai’s standards

 

[DandyFellow]

For Pakistan, 200+ would be enough to be beat Afghanistan. However, they will need to attack and get runs upfront. As the ball gets older and pitch gets slower, it would become difficult to score quick runs.
For 2nd innings, Pakistan will need to get rid of Gurbaz early because he can take the game away in the Powerplay in a low scoring game.

 

[Thanos]

Afganistan is playing with four spinners .
40 over of spinners

Stupid from Afg. 3 spinners are more than enough.

 

[Unbiased-Fan]

Unfortunately Nawaz is worse of the two. If i had a choice, i'd always pick Shadab over Nawaz anyday.

Lol, Nawaz is 10 times better ODI spinner than Shadab. Equal batsman, though Shadab is better fielder

 

[BouncerGuy]

Today we have long straight boundaries and short square boundaries, which means that our spinners cannot afford to bowl half-trackers today. More accuracy is needed if they have to excel.

 

[160KPH]

This pitch is so so dry.. maybe 200 will be competitive here

 

[shah_1]

Pakistan need to play how their predecessors used to play. Use the feet, kill the spin.

Babar bats like a headless chicken against Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad

 

[PakPremi]

Lol, Nawaz is 10 times better ODI spinner than Shadab. Equal batsman, though Shadab is better fielder

Nawaz is just accurate no wicket taking threat. And in batting very impact less takes long to get set, whereas Shadab gets going straight away and runs a lots of 2s and can play in gaps.

 

[Energy]

4 spinners is a huge risk taken by Afghanistan but they know their strengths. Pakistan has everything against them as the BCCI have purposely prepared this wicket to suit the Afghans.

Small hearts.

 

[Saanji]

I am really interested to know who ia deciding which pitches are being used for different games. For India Vs Australia it was a slow spinning pitch. For New Zealand Vs Bangladesh, there was a different pitch with bounce and carry for fast bowlers.
Today, it seems like a slow turner again which favors Pakistan's opponents. This also would mean that South African match might have slightly bouncier track. I am getting nervous for Pakistan now.

Let me tell you ... Shhhh
It was the CIA RAW and Mossad.
Yogi and modi did a havan to determine the right pitches against pakistan
bcci and ICC are just a front

 

[Unbiased-Fan]

Strange team combination by Afghanistan. Three spinners are more than enough. Farooqui with his left arm pace bowling, brings much more variety to their bowling.

Though, untested bowler Noor Ahmad can launch nuclear attack on Pakistanis who are notorious to fail against newcomers.

 

[160KPH]

Nawaz is just accurate no wicket taking threat. And in batting very impact less takes long to get set, whereas Shadab gets going straight away and runs a lots of 2s and can play in gaps.

Yeah and Iftikhar can slow the run rate the same way Nawaz does anyway, Saud can also bowl some off spin

 

[jattafridi]

Omg too much tension

Let’s see what happens

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

4 spinners is a huge risk taken by Afghanistan but they know their strengths. Pakistan has everything against them as the BCCI have purposely prepared this wicket to suit the Afghans.

Small hearts.

Keep no expectations from "Dushman Mulk"..

 

[Omer2002]

well Indians have obviously prepared this wicket for us to be knocked out but i guess we deserve it.

 

[shah_1]

Imagine Pakistan losing this

Babar Azam will be the most hated captain ever. Pakistanis can accept losing to India but not to Afghanistan. The chances are quite high for this to happen haha

 

[gazza619]

Good game for the neutral though. Pakistan and Afghanistan are very close in terms of skill level in white ball

 

[WengerOut]

Pak batting first and AFG have already lost.

 

[AAli98]

Perfect pitch for Pak they don’t need to get out of there comfort zone use pitch as a excuse.

Percentage cricket will need to be played here.

 

[PakPremi]

Good game for the neutral though. Pakistan and Afghanistan are very close in terms of skill level in white ball

Afghan with their superior spin attack and Pakistan pace attack in bad form is better bowling line up, but Pakistan batting is much better than Afghanistan

 

[emranabbas]

Nice and ready to watch 10 over 50 with no sixes

 

[Mesozoic]

The BCCI has always been mischievous but they have outdone themselves here. They are using the same pitch from the last match and according to some commentators, today’s pitch will be turn more by Chennai standards.

Only way for Pakistan team to respond to the BCCI’s petty tactics is to win, and win comprehensively.

No they aren't using the same wicket as last game here which was NZ vs Afg. They're going to use the wicket on which India played Australia in the first week.

There are three centre wickets in Chepauk and all three wickets have been used so far. It's natural that they'll opt for the one that was used farthest back.

 

[Energy]

Now when you expect Imam to play out a solid 50 (60) he will fail. That's his problem- plays out an average innings on good batting tracks, and fails on difficult batting tracks. Hopefully we will be proven wrong.

 

[mikeypbadana86]

4 spinners is a huge risk taken by Afghanistan but they know their strengths. Pakistan has everything against them as the BCCI have purposely prepared this wicket to suit the Afghans.

Small hearts.

No. Dharmashala is a dream wicket for Newzeland. India playing against SA on bouncy Calcutta pitch. Pakistan preferred to not play in Delhi/mumbai. With limited venues, Chennai is bound to be chosen for PAK.

 

[Ali Active]

Nice and ready to watch 10 over 50 with no sixes

It is 250 pitch so we might be 30 for 1 at 10 overs

 

[apnapind]

Man why are they playing 4 spinners are they in their senses

 

[Unbiased-Fan]

Waiting for Pakistan's national anthem my favorite after Jana Gana mana

 

[Unbiased-Fan]

Waiting for Pakistan's national anthem my favorite after Jana Gana mana

Wow Even Afghanistan's national anthem is awesome

 

[CerebralPatriot]

Babar and Rizwan will struggle on this pitch. Not predicting a good game for them

Shadab being back is just the icing on the cake

 

[hass]

FINALLY Nawaz out! Why did it have to take so long and why did we only do it on the most spin friendly track as well?

 

[mominsaigol]

40 overs of spin, yikes. I'm worried for babar. Abdullah, Rizzu and Saud will be fine though. Imam can nudge so ig it's not too bad a situation

 

[Iamcoolwhiz]

Isn't it better to bowl on spinning wickets first as the pitch eases in the night

 

[MMHS]

Could have been a tricky one had AFGs won the toss, but at least this time Babar thought like the simple man he is - win toss & bat first on a dry, barren surface, without fearing for the dew on the hottest day of this WC.

Only way I see AFGs competing here is that PAK top order play with too much “intension” and get them 5 down inside 30 overs, then all out inside 45 overs. Play selfish boys & play for own runs to take it to two down till 35th over, then bat out 50 overs - both 2 points & NRR will be taken care of thereafter.

AFGs are playing with 4 spinners - one partnership of 100+ among top 3 will expose their limitations.

 

[gani999]

The BCCI has always been mischievous but they have outdone themselves here. They are using the same pitch from the last match and according to some commentators, today’s pitch will be turn more by Chennai standards.

Only way for Pakistan team to respond to the BCCI’s petty tactics is to win, and win comprehensively.

Really, this obsession with the pitch should stop. Even the opposition is playing on the same pitch, so don't complain. And whose fault is it if Pakistan cannot play spin?

 

[Rana]

Waqar Younis defending the no sixes in powerplay approach

 

[MMHS]

Isn't it better to bowl on spinning wickets first as the pitch eases in the night

Theoretically yes, but it doesn’t come with the challenges of chasing on a slow turners. Besides, for first 20-25 overs new ball will move on the surface & in air under lights. Yes, batting first, if they start to loose wickets at regular interval then chasing 200 is easier here, but it’s lot more difficult to chase 250+ then defend 250+.

 

[ChTab]

Waqar Younis defending the no sixes in powerplay approach

and he is our so called legend & modern cricketer

 

[Iamcoolwhiz]

Imam has looked good in pp so far

 

[Markhor]

Agree with toss decision. Looks blazing hot and PAK have struggled chasing vs AFG in past.

 

[Devadwal]

Today is imam day

 

[Ahmed216]

Isn't it better to bowl on spinning wickets first as the pitch eases in the night

In South India dew factor doesn't play that big a role.

 

[pratiktc]

Afg is a promising team but they have had their upset for the tournament.

They will at best tie down Pak in middle overs but Pak will still post 280+

In chase Afg will be rattled by Shaheen and Rauf. Shadab and Mir will clean up some cheap tailend wkts after taking some tap from Rashid/Mujeeb.

Overall 100-120 run win expected for Pak today

 

[emranabbas]

Hashmatullah is a better captain he's definitely not following a script like babar

 

[Kianig89]

Don't get bogged down guys play with patience remember this is the perfect time for batting

 

[Devadwal]

Pakistan need a strong platform

 

[Kianig89]

Is this a big ground boundary distance?

 

[Ali Active]

dot and dot

 

[Azzurri]

Shafique takes too many balls to start. Way too TIMID for modern game

 

[Devadwal]

Just short

 

[ChTab]

Abdullah looking shaky

 

[Iamcoolwhiz]

In South India dew factor doesn't play that big a role.

Chennai stadium is stone throw away from Marina beach, does that change anything

 

[BouncerGuy]

That shot from abdullah, superb....

 

[Devadwal]

Shot

 

[ChTab]

shot!!!!

 

[DandyFellow]

First PP is really crucial for Pakistan. It will become difficult to score runs as the ball get older and pitch gets slower. If Pakistan plays the way they do and think about going deep then they will be in trouble.
There will be a collapse in latter part of the innings but Pakistan would be in good position if they score faster early on.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

This is a perfect pitch, match, and conditions for Imam.

He has to perform today

 

[Spitfire]

and he is our so called legend & modern cricketer

He has coached Pakistan numerous times too.

 

[Iamcoolwhiz]

The pitch looks like spin minefield

 

[YousafTheBeast]

One bounce 4, the closest we’ve been to seeing a 6 in the PP.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Both openers looking like walking wickets at moment

 

[Azzurri]

Timid timid timid cricketers. loser mentality

 

[kron]

Let's Goooo boys

 

[Ahmed216]

I cannot believe my eyes. Lofted stroke in the PP.
Positive mindset means your footwork and bat swing is much better.

 

[ChTab]

He has coached Pakistan numerous times too.

yes & most likely he will do again maybe after this WC when Pak doesn't qualify for the semis

 

[imshally81]

No fazal farooqi is a huge advantage for Pakistan.... He is better than Naveen...

Shadab is very lucky

 

[Iamcoolwhiz]

Mujeeb is such an accurate bowler.

 

[Spitfire]

I bet, had the Aghans batted first. Gurbaz would have already tonked a couple nto the stands by now.

 

[gani999]

Chennai stadium is stone throw away from Marina beach, does that change anything

There is usually some dew in Chennai at this time of the year.

 

[Aviator]

The best openers in world cricket showing their masterclass on how to bat on flattest of track with such authority.