It's now roughly midway via the World Cup, and the desk is starting to take form. Afghanistan and Pakistan, the 2 sides that take one another on in Chennai, are nowhere close to the top of it, and it is already starting to strategy must-win territory for every of those sides. Defeat for Afghanistan would virtually actually knock them out, whereas a Pakistan loss leaves Babar Azam's facet with no additional room for error.
Afghanistan LWLLL (final 5 accomplished matches, most up-to-date first)Pakistan LLWWL
There is not a lot that Pakistan have needed to cheer in regards to the previous couple of video games, however Shaheen Afridi's efficiency towards Australia was little in need of world-class. In a recreation the place Australia racked up 367, he registered figures of 5 for 54, together with the innings' solely maiden over, in an beautiful bowling show that straddled all three phases. Things may need been even higher for Pakistan had Usama Mir not shelled a easy likelihood off his bowling when David Warner - who would go on to attain 163 - was on 10. He has an excellent file towards Afghanistan, with 12 wickets at 15.25, and with Pakistan needing to get their World Cup again on monitor, Shaheen's management with the ball might go a good distance.
Afghanistan (attainable): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz 2 Ibrahim Zadran 3 Rahmat Shah 4 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt) 5 Azmatullah Omarzai 6 Ikram Alikhil (wk) 7 Mohammad Nabi 8 Rashid Khan 9 Mujeeb Ur Rahman 10 Naveen-ul-Haq 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi
The solely query for Pakistan is whether or not Usama Mir, who had a disappointing earlier outing, will get one other alternative in additional conducive situations. One of Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz and Mir will miss out, with Nawaz wanting more likely to make method.
Pakistan (attainable): 1 Abdullah Shafique 2 Imam-ul-Haq 3 Babar Azam (capt) 4 Mohammad Rizwan (wk) 5 Saud Shakeel 6 Mohammad Nawaz/Shadab Khan 7 Iftikhar Ahmed 8 Usama Mir 8 9 Hasan Ali 10 Shaheen Shah Afridi 11 Haris Rauf
The pitch would be the identical because the one used for the Australia-India recreation a fortnight in the past, which suggests each side can anticipate loads of flip.
There is an extreme warmth warning in Chennai tomorrow, with situations anticipated to be significantly oppressive all through the afternoon. That might imply batting first for the facet successful the toss.
"We have played four matches and we are 2-2. We are confident. We accept that we did not play well in the last two matches. We will have to perform up to the mark."Imam-ul-Haq recognises the necessity for an improved efficiency from Pakistan
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