Afghanistan Gears Up for High-Stakes Clash Against Australia
LAHORE: The cricketing world is set for an exciting showdown as defending champions Australia face an improving Afghanistan side in a crucial ICC Champions Trophy encounter.
After a thrilling victory over England at Gaddafi Stadium, Hashmatullah Shahidi’s Afghanistan team is riding high on confidence ahead of their final Group B match against Steve Smith-led Australia at the same venue.
With three points, Australia will secure a semi-final berth if they win on Friday, joining South Africa (also on three points). However, an Afghanistan victory (currently on two points) will propel them into the semi-finals, leaving England (zero points) and South Africa’s clash on March 1 in Karachi to determine the second qualifier from the group.
Weather could play a crucial role, with forecasts predicting rain on Friday. While Afghanistan had to cancel their training due to the downpour, Australia practiced indoors. If the match is washed out, Australia will progress to the semi-finals with four points, while Afghanistan (three points) will be eliminated.
Afghanistan has yet to defeat Australia in four previous ODIs. The closest they came was during the 2023 World Cup when Glenn Maxwell’s spectacular double century secured a dramatic three-wicket victory for Australia.
Both teams head into this match after beating England in Lahore, making for a well-balanced contest. Australia, unbeaten in their two games so far, looks strong, while Afghanistan suffered a heavy 107-run loss against South Africa in Karachi.
Afghanistan Focused on the Bigger Picture
Afghanistan captain Shahidi dismissed concerns about Maxwell’s past heroics, stating that their strategy is for the entire Australian team, not just an individual player.
“We are not here just to play against Maxwell. The 2023 World Cup is history now,” Shahidi said in a press conference. “We defeated them in the 2024 T20 World Cup. We are aware of our opponents, and we have a comprehensive game plan.”
He also praised opener Ibrahim Zadran for his career-best 177 against England, which played a crucial role in their victory.
While the semi-final spot remains a goal, Shahidi emphasized that their immediate focus is on executing their strategy against Australia.
“Australia is a strong team, but every international match comes with its own plans. We have prepared for this encounter accordingly,” he added.
Australia’s Tactical Approach
Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne hinted at their game plan, highlighting their strategy to counter Afghanistan’s strong spin attack in the middle overs.
“We will focus on both batting and bowling. Combating their spin will be key,” Labuschagne told reporters.
Acknowledging Afghanistan’s all-round capabilities, he added, “They have a solid pace attack and strong batting lineup. Their performance against England showed their potential.”
Regarding Australia’s preparations, Labuschagne expressed confidence in their readiness, despite weather disruptions.
“Our main preparations were done before the tournament. The rain affected training, but the team has played enough cricket to be match-ready,” he said.
When asked about Afghanistan’s underdog status, Labuschagne was cautious in his response.
“I am not here to label teams. We know Afghanistan’s quality and are preparing to give our best performance,” he said.
With strong local support for Afghanistan in Lahore, Labuschagne added, “We would love to win and silence the crowd.”
Addressing Australia’s past stance on Afghanistan’s exclusion from women’s cricket, he said, “This is an ICC tournament, and we are focused on the match. Cricket Australia has taken positions before, but for now, we are preparing for the game.”
Squads:
AUSTRALIA: Steve Smith (captain), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa.
AFGHANISTAN: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran.
