ISLAMABAD (Sports Reporter): Which player will be in the Pakistan’s playing squad against a crucial match against inexperienced but talented Afghanistan Cricket Team to keep lives hopes for reaching in semi final of the ICC men’s World Cup 2023.
Both teams will play the match on today (Monday 23 October) at MA Chidambaram cricket Stadium, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Sources told the scribe that the team management have not mood in any change in the playing squad. The same players will likely to play match against Afghanistan which had played against Australia.
Sources that the Fakhar Zaman is not playing against Afghanistan due to health reasons. Although, he is getting well soon but, the management is not ready to include him playing eleven. Perhaps, the management has plan to give chance him against South Africa. There is also no chance to come back of Shadab Khan in playing squad against Afghanistan. He will sit on benches and Osama Mir will likely to play against Afghanistan despite not impressive performance against Australia.
There is also reports that the Haris Rauf will also part of playing squad of Green Shirts against Afghanistan.
Pakistan has won two matches against inexperienced teams Netherlands and Sri Lanka in the World Cup. However, the it has lost back to back matches against India and Australia which are comparatively stronger and tougher teams.
The consecutive losses leave Pakistan with little margin for any error as they have to chase the six victories likely needed to secure the seat in semi finalof the Cricket World Cup.
Pakistan cricket team has strong record against new and inexperience Afghan Cricket Team. Pakistan and Afghanistan played seven ODIs so far and Pakistan won by 7 0 margin. On the other hand, the Afghanis won the match against Defending Champion England in upset.
High morals of Pakistan’s playing squad
The Pakistani fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi believes that what the team has learned from the last two matches will help them in the next matches.
While talking with PCB Digital, Shaheen Afridi said that the team has realized about the expectations of the fans and players are eager to fulfill those expectations. Defeats are defeats and team has to accept it but it is better for the team to learn from it. The last two matches against India and Australia are very important for green shirts. Pakistan is still in the tournament of the World Cup and players are here to make history by winning the World Cup, he said.
Shaheen, who took five wickets against Australia, says, “I knew Bangalore was a high-scoring pitch for which I was mentally prepared, I tried different variations and focused on the length which helped a lot.”
Shaheen Afridi believes that the ball does not swing much in India as compared to England and New Zealand. it is important for the bowler to adapt to the conditions because the pitches don’t have bounce much, in such a situation good fielding also boosts the morale of the team, he further said.
On a query, he said that mistakes and dropping catches are part of the game. However, it is more important that every player wants to do for team. It is matter of satisfaction that the all players are eager to deliver to win the match.
Playing Squads
Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi.
Afghanistan squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, Naveen ul Haq.