Rashid Khan’s poignant question after Afghanistan’s historic T20 World Cup victory over Australia – “If we play in the World Cup, why not in bilateral series?” – highlights the unusual dynamic between these two cricket nations.
Unlike the India-Pakistan rivalry, which is steeped in political tension and historical conflict, there’s no such baggage between Australia and Afghanistan. Geographically distant and without a history of disputes, the primary reason for limited bilateral cricket lies in Cricket Australia’s concerns about the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, particularly the treatment of women and girls under Taliban rule.
Despite this off-field context, on the field, Afghanistan has been making waves. They famously challenged Australia in a previous match, only to be denied by an extraordinary innings from Glenn Maxwell. However, in the T20 World Cup, Afghanistan secured a landmark win, signaling their ascent in international cricket. Now, they face Australia again in Lahore, with a coveted Champions Trophy semifinal spot on the line.
The qualification scenario is straightforward: an Australia win or a washout secures their place. Afghanistan must win to advance. A washout would leave Afghanistan needing a significant England victory over South Africa to progress.
Afghanistan enters this match with significant momentum, boosted by their impressive win against England at the same venue. Ibrahim Zadran’s remarkable century and Azmatullah Omarzai’s all-around performance underscore Afghanistan’s ambition to be more than just underdogs. Playing in familiar conditions in Lahore and fueled by a strong belief, this match presents a golden opportunity for Afghanistan to challenge Australia.
Australia, despite missing key players, has demonstrated their strength throughout the tournament. Their successful chase of a large total against England showcased their batting depth and composure in major tournaments. However, their recent match was rained out, potentially disrupting their rhythm, while Afghanistan has been actively competing and gaining match practice.
The upcoming contest in Lahore poses an intriguing question: will Australia’s freshness or Afghanistan’s momentum prove decisive?
Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
What to Expect: Lahore has favored chasing teams in recent ODIs, with an average first innings score of 300. Both Australia and Afghanistan have demonstrated strong batting performances in this tournament at this ground. A slight chance of rain is forecast, with conditions expected to improve later in the match.
Afghanistan Probable XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Australia Probable XI: Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steven Smith(c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis(w), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson
