Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat against Australia in a must-win Champions Trophy match. Led by captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan hopes to build on their recent victory over England. Australia enters the game unchanged, aiming to maintain their position in the tournament after a successful chase against England.
In a crucial Champions Trophy match in Lahore, Afghanistan’s captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the coin toss and opted to bat against Australia under cloudy weather conditions. This is a must-win game for Afghanistan as they seek to advance following an impressive comeback in the tournament, highlighted by an eight-run victory over England earlier in the week.
Having experienced a significant defeat by 107 runs against South Africa in their opening match, Afghanistan has decided to retain the same starting eleven for the third consecutive match. The team is counting on their three spinners—Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad, and the renowned leg-spinner Rashid Khan—to secure a strong performance.
Australia, on the other hand, enters the match with three points accrued from a record-setting chase of 352 runs against England and an additional point from a rain-affected match against South Africa in Rawalpindi. The Australian side remains unchanged for this encounter.
Both New Zealand and India have already secured their places in the semifinals from Group A, while the hosts Pakistan and Bangladesh have been eliminated from the tournament.
Lineups:
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Australia: Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steven Smith (captain), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson.
Afghanistan’s decision to bat first in their must-win match against Australia highlights their confidence following a strong performance against England. The continuation of their previous lineup emphasizes stability, while Australia’s unchanged squad reflects their tactical consistency. The outcomes of this match will determine Afghanistan’s fate in the tournament as they aim to replicate their previous success and secure a semifinal berth.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
