Pakistan vs Afghanistan Live Score, World Cup 2023: Pakistan win ...
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THE TIMES OF INDIA | Oct 23, 2023, 13:59:22 IST
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PAK vs AFG World Cup 2023 Live Cricket Score Updates: Be it Saeed Anwar’s 194 in the Independence Cup in 1997 or a memorable Test win against India in 1999, Pakistan have some incredible Chennai memories. Even in December 2012, when they played the first match of a revival bilateral series here, Pakistan were triumphant despite MS Dhoni’s century. The current lot doesn’t seem to have the quality that their predecessors had, but if Pakistan are to stay alive in this World Cup, Babar Azam’s boys will have to turn the clock back.
Two back-to-back losses against India and Australia have left Pakistan on the brink. They play two games in Chennai, starting with the one against Afghanistan on Monday followed by South Africa on Friday. And given the nature of the Chepauk pitches, where there will be some turn for the spinners, it’s going to be a tough task for Pakistan to win both.
“Yes, we know that this is the leg that will decide whether we stay in the competition or not. We will have to raise our game, be in batting or bowling,” Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq said ahead of the team’s practice session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.
While the Pakistan batting failed against India, it is their bowling that has left a lot to be desired. While Shaheen Afridi showed glimpses of coming back to form in the second spell against Australia in Bengaluru on Friday, the rest of the bowlers have just been below-par.
Haris Rauf has leaked runs, Hasan Ali has been below average while leggie Shadab Khan lost his place in the team in the last game, to be replaced by Usama Mir. It has meant that the Pakistan batting is almost obligated to score 350-plus everyday, which is not always possible against quality opposition.
But Imam insists that it is not as bad as it looks.
“It’s a team game after all and we back our bowlers. As a batting group, it’s not a question of being under extra pressure but just staying positive,” Imam said.
It’s easier said than done, especially when you’re playing on the black soil pitches of Chennai. It is likely that the pitch which was used for the India-Australia game will be used on Monday as well and that would mean the spinners would come into play.
Afghanistan have a battery of spinners in their line-up with Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman and Mohammed Nabi doing well till now. The Afghans have an ace up their sleeve in the chinaman bowler Noor Ahmed and it will be interesting to see whether they unleash the bowler who had a very good IPL for Gujarat Titans.
Imam, though, insisted that playing on a turning pitch against Afghanistan doesn’t worry them.
“We played Afghanistan on spinning tracks in Hambantota in a recent series and won 3-0...Yes, there have been a few close games with them but we are not afraid,” Imam said, adding that when they go to Kolkata for their next leg, they will have four wins in their bag.
A tall claim, given their current form, but who better than Pakistan to pull off a surprise here and there.
Read LessPAK vs AFG Live: Time for National Anthems
The two teams lined up in the middle for their respective National Anthems at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
PAK vs AFG Live: Pakistan Playing XI
Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf
PAK vs AFG Live: Afghanistan Playing XI
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Noor Ahmad
We wanted to bat first, but the toss is not in your hand. One change for us - Noor Ahmad is in for Fazalhaq Farooqi. We played a series against them in Sri Lanka and we wanted more spinning options. We want to restrict them to 250 or less.
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi at the tossWe will bat first. The pitch looks very dry and might spin. We have one change, Nawaz has fever and Shadab is back. We will have to give our 100% in every match and step up, that's what I want from my players. The pitch might help the pacers under lights.
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam at the tossPAK vs AFG Live: News from the toss
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam wins the toss and decides to bat first
PAK vs AFG Live: Pakistan batter Imam-ul-Haq's thoughts
PAK v AFG Live: The pitch factor
It is likely that the pitch which was used for the India-Australia game will be used on Monday as well and that would mean the spinners would come into play.
PAK v AFG Live: Toss coming up in about 30 minutes
PAK vs AFG Live: The spin challenge for Pak batters
Afghanistan have a battery of spinners in their line-up with Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman and Mohammed Nabi doing well till now. The Afghans have an ace up their sleeve in the chinaman bowler Noor Ahmed and it will be interesting to see whether they unleash the bowler who had a very good IPL for Gujarat Titans.
PAK v AFG Live: Pakistan's bowling worries
While the Pakistan batting failed against India, it is their bowling that has left a lot to be desired. While Shaheen Shah Afridi showed glimpses of coming back to form in the second spell against Australia in Bengaluru on Friday, the rest of the bowlers have just been below-par.
PAK vs AFG Live: Building up to the toss...
PAK vs AFG: Unpredictable Pakistan
Babar Azam & Co have blown hot and cold in this World Cu, which is characteristic of their unpredictable nature as a team. That is also why it will be a risky affair to rule them out of the equation just as yet.
AFG vs PAK: Pakistan behind Australia
Pakistan are No. 5 on the leaderboard with two wins in four matches, which is same as No. 4 Australia. But the Aussies, who have resurrected their campaign after starting with two defeats, are ahead on net run rate,
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PAK vs AFG: Afghanistan still in with a chance
Afghanistan, along with four other teams, have two points from one win in four matches. So they might be last on the points table based on net run rate, but are still very much in it as the World Cup opens up closer to hitting midway stage.
PAK vs AFG: Two defeats in a row
After starting their World Cup with two consecutive wins, Pakistan faced heavy defeats againt arch-rivals India and then Australia to find themselves slip out of the top-four bracket on the points tbale.
Good to have you back!
It's a Monday, and if there's one team that would want the day to be free of any 'blues' for them, it is Pakistan, who are on the brink in this World Cup as they face a spirited Afghanistan today in 'spin-friendly' Chennai.
