Even earlier than the adrenaline may subside after a heart-stopping, rollercoaster trip in opposition to England on Wednesday evening in Lahore, Afghanistan’s ideas began to show towards Australia. Participant of the match Ibrahim Zadran, after his record-breaking 177, mentioned it will likely be vital to keep away from easy errors once they tackle Steve Smith’s males. Certain, knocking out England from the ICC Champions Trophy is an enormous consequence for the match debutants, but it surely signified their rise in worldwide cricket that they aren’t simply right here for these one-off wins. The Afghanistan cricket story, inspiring as it’s, is just not a shock anymore. On Friday, they’ll stand with an opportunity so as to add one other chapter.
World Champions Australia know all too properly how tough it’s to face Afghanistan. Rewind again to Mumbai on 7 November on the Wankhede Stadium. Each groups had an opportunity to succeed in the semifinals, and Afghanistan had Australia on the mat. Had Mujeeb Ur Rahman not put down a sitter in opposition to Glenn Maxwell, the rest of the World Cup would have appeared a complete lot totally different. Mujeeb dropped the catch, Maxwell dropped an all-timer with a shocking double century. Afghan hearts had been damaged whereas Australia went on to be topped winners 12 days later in Ahmedabad. After all, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi was reminded about that Maxwell heist within the press convention, and the Afghanistan captain smiled.
“You assume we are going to come solely to play with Maxwell? Do you assume it will likely be like that?,” he requested. “We’ll plan for all Australian batters. I do know that he performed very well in 2023 World Cup, however that’s a part of historical past. After that, we beat them in T20 World Cup, and we take into consideration all opposition staff, we aren’t coming to the bottom to plan on particular person participant. We’re not taking part in solely Maxwell – we’re taking part in Australia.”
Properly-rounded Afghanistan
Traditionally, Afghanistan have relied on the consistency of their spinners led by Rashid Khan and flashes of brilliance with the bat to win them matches. However there’s a extra rounded really feel to this facet led by Shahidi. In Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, they’ve openers able to taking part in match-changing knocks. In Azmatullah Omarzai, the reigning ICC ODI Males’s Cricketer of the 12 months, they’ve a world-class allrounder within the making. His bowling method which got here for reward from Sachin Tendulkar throughout the World Cup, has developed right into a potent weapon, with hit-the-deck quick balls a vital a part of his arsenal other than the power to maneuver the brand new ball both manner because the Indian nice had famous. In Mohammad Nabi, they’ve a wily (previous) buyer able to offering the large hits within the decrease order and getting by his overs of spin with minimal fuss and most readability. Then there are the likes of Gulbadin Naib and Fazalhaq Farooqi, dependable operators able to placing their fingers up when referred to as upon.
The important thing males, in fact, will nonetheless be their principal spinners, Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad. In opposition to South Africa in Karachi, they didn’t discover a lot help from the floor and went for runs. Rashid went wicketless, Noor struggled along with his line greater than size and was costly. In opposition to England in Lahore, the place there was slightly extra help, Nabi, Rashid and Noor had been within the recreation a bit extra. It was nonetheless the pacers doing the injury when it comes to wickets, however the spin trio may apply some dot ball strain at vital instances.
Climate risk
With the Gadaffi Stadium being the venue as soon as once more, the strain will firmly on the bowlers from each side. Australia’s bowling unit, severely depleted when it comes to star energy, conceded 351 earlier than it was chased down. Afghanistan conceded 317 of their defence of 325. However there’s forecast of rain in Lahore on Friday, particularly throughout the daytime. Australia’s game-time (with their match in opposition to South Africa in Rawalpindi rained out with out toss) and coaching schedule has been curtailed due to the unhealthy climate, however a washout on this digital quarterfinal will likely be sufficient for Australia to qualify. Afghanistan will want Qudrat ka Nizam on their facet as they need to win a accomplished match to progress.
Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott made it clear he doesn’t see this as a match of unequals anymore, no David vs Goliath narrative right here. In spite of everything, Afghanistan have pushed Australia to their limits within the final three ICC conferences, even defeating them on the 2024 T20 WC. “I say this to the gamers as properly… that Afghanistan’s by no means going to be taken evenly ever once more,” Trott mentioned. “We’ve bought to be ready as a result of I do know Australia aren’t going to take us evenly. Whereas up to now, maybe folks would have seen the fixture and thought it was slightly bit simpler than taking part in a historic Take a look at Nation. However on this format, in these situations, I don’t see that. I see each recreation that we play goes to be aggressive and each recreation we go into I count on to win.”
