LAHORE, Pakistan — Under cloudy skies, Afghanistan’s captain Hashmatullah Shahidi opted to bat after winning the toss in a decisive Group B match of the Champions Trophy against Australia. This encounter is critical for Afghanistan’s progress in the tournament.
In a remarkable comeback, Afghanistan knocked out England with a surprising eight-run win during their last match at the same venue, boosting their confidence. Despite a previous loss to South Africa by 107 runs, the Afghan team retained their initial squad for a third consecutive match, relying heavily on their trio of spinners: Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad, and the renowned leg-spinner Rashid Khan.
Australia goes into this match with momentum, having secured three points from a record chase of 352 runs against England. Additionally, they earned a point from a rained-out encounter with South Africa in Rawalpindi. Like Afghanistan, Australia has also chosen to stick with their existing lineup for this game.
In Group A, New Zealand and India have already secured their spots in the semifinals, with hosts Pakistan and Bangladesh being eliminated. This places even greater pressure on Afghanistan as they aim to advance from Group B.
Lineups for the match are as follows:
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.
