Champions Trophy Preview: Afghanistan vs Australia Playing XI and Expectations

Afghanistan and Australia are poised to meet in the Champions Trophy after both teams secured victories against England. Afghanistan gained confidence from their recent win, while Australia is grappling with key player absences following mixed performances. The match is set for February 27, 2025, at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, where chasing teams have historically fared well.

Afghanistan and Australia are set to clash in a captivating encounter during the Champions Trophy, having engaged in thrilling contests in previous ICC events. Notably, Australia triumphed thanks to Glenn Maxwell’s performance at the 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup, while Afghanistan claimed a dramatic victory over Australia at the Men’s T20 World Cup last year. Both teams recently secured wins against England, making this match highly anticipated.

Afghanistan enters the match with a boost of confidence after defeating England, following a significant loss to South Africa in their opening game. Before the Champions Trophy, Afghanistan demonstrated their competitiveness by winning their last four bilateral series against notable teams including Ireland, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe, establishing themselves as worthy competitors.

Conversely, Australia began their tournament with an impressive victory over England, although a subsequent match against South Africa was abandoned due to rain. The team is currently facing challenges due to the absence of key bowlers including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, which has put them in precarious form after a disappointing series against Sri Lanka.

The probable playing XI for Afghanistan includes Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, and Fazalhaq Farooqi. Australia is likely to field Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steven Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (w), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, and Spencer Johnson.

The match between Afghanistan and Australia is scheduled for February 27, 2025, at 2:30 PM IST/2:00 PM local time at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Recent ODI statistics at this venue indicate that chasing teams have won five out of ten matches since 2022, with an average first-innings score of 300. While there is a forecast of light rain, conditions are expected to improve in the latter half of the match.

In summary, Afghanistan and Australia are set for an engaging showdown in the Champions Trophy after both teams recently solidified their standings with wins against England. Afghanistan demonstrated their competitive spirit through recent series victories, while Australia seeks to establish their dominance despite missing key bowlers. The match promises excitement, particularly given the venue’s historical chasing trends and current weather conditions.

Original Source: m.economictimes.com