Lahore: A crucial Australia vs Afghanistan Champions Trophy Group B match will take place today, with the winning team securing a spot in the semi-finals. The match holds great significance for both teams, as the victorious side will advance to the next stage. Afghanistan and Australia will face off in their final group-stage match at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
If Afghanistan loses, they will be eliminated from the tournament. However, if Australia loses, they will not be out of the semi-final race immediately; instead, they will have to wait for the result of Saturday’s match between England and South Africa. Currently, both Australia and South Africa have three points each, but South Africa has a better net run rate. Meanwhile, there is a risk that rain might disrupt the Australia vs Afghanistan match.
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Australia has prepared for the match with indoor training, whereas Afghanistan had to cancel their practice session due to rain. Both teams have won one match each so far. Afghanistan pulled off a major upset by defeating England.
Afghanistan vs Australia: Match Stats and Possible Records
Looking at the stats and records for Australia vs Afghanistan matches:
- Hard-hitting Glenn Maxwell is just 17 runs away from reaching 4,000 ODI runs. His strike rate of 126.68 is the highest in ODI history.
- Afghan star bowler Rashid Khan is only one wicket away from becoming the first Afghan bowler to take 200 ODI wickets. His bowling average of 20.4 ranks 9th best in ODI history.
- Rahmat Shah needs 37 more runs to become the first Afghan batsman to reach 4,000 ODI runs.
- Australia has won all four of their ODI matches against Afghanistan so far.
Confident Morale – We Can Defeat Australia Too: Hashmatullah Shahidi
Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, expressed confidence, stating that if his team could defeat England, they could also overcome Australia. Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, he mentioned that the team’s morale is high following their victory against England. He acknowledged that Australia is a tough opponent but assured that his team would put up a strong fight and aim for victory.
He further emphasized that Afghanistan’s goal is to secure a place in the semi-finals by defeating Australia. The team will follow a simple strategy in the match. He also praised Afghan fans for their unwavering support, which was evident against England, and hoped for the same enthusiasm in the upcoming match against Australia.
Australia vs Afghanistan: High-Stakes Battle for Semi-Final Berth
The Afghan skipper highlighted the team’s strength in spin bowling, stating that even slight assistance from the pitch could make them dangerous against any opponent. He clarified that their planning is not solely focused on Glenn Maxwell but on the entire Australian team. “We are not playing against just Maxwell; we are playing against Australia,” he added. Shahidi stressed that past performances are history and that their full focus is on the upcoming match, with a commitment to executing their game plan against Australia.
Meanwhile, Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne expressed confidence in his team’s form, stating that their batters are in good shape and their goal is to finish first in the group.
Marnus Labuschagne, speaking about the possible impact of rain in Australia vs Afghanistan match, said that if the match gets canceled due to rain, they will qualify for the semi-finals. However, he emphasized that they would prefer to win the match and finish at the top of the group.
