The 22nd match of the 2023 Cricket World Cup is scheduled for October 23, featuring a highly anticipated clash between Pakistan and Afghanistan as they vie for cricketing glory. This Asian showdown will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Let us have a look at preview of the Pakistan vs. Afghanistan match, including insights on the Pitch Conditions, the likely Playing XIs, and some Top Fantasy Picks to keep an eye on.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan Match Preview
The tournament has turned the heat up, with Points Table bouncing on & off. Both the teams will be raving up for a win, coming after a loss for each of them in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
Despite a promising start to the tournament, Pakistan is now facing a challenging situation after consecutive losses to India and Australia. Several issues have plagued their performance in this competition. Apart from Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan’s bowling has been unimpressive. Babar Azam, the linchpin of the team, has struggled to find his form, which is vital for their success. Moreover, their fielding has fallen short of international standards. To stay in contention for the World Cup, they must regroup and make a strong comeback against Afghanistan.
Undoubtedly, Mohammad Rizwan has emerged as one of the most significant assets for Pakistan, alongside Shaheen Afridi and Imam-ul-Haq. Rizwan has shouldered the responsibility of the batting lineup in recent matches. To confront the formidable spin maestros of Afghanistan on a Chennai-like pitch, Pakistan’s batting unit needs to elevate their performance. All eyes will once more be on their star batsman and the captain, who must lead by example in this crucial juncture.
On the other hand, Afghanistan experienced the highs of defeating England but were brought back to reality with a substantial 149-run loss to New Zealand. Currently, they find themselves at the bottom of the points table, with England sharing the same position. Afghanistan is eager to break free from this situation, and their batting lineup, which has been a major disappointment, needs to step up.
Afghanistan sees an opportunity to perform well against Pakistan, as the conditions seem to favor their style of play. Despite their previous record of not having beaten Pakistan in One Day Internationals, they are determined to end that streak in their upcoming match on Monday.
Match Details
- Venue: Chennai, India
- Ground: M.A. Chidambaram Cricket Stadium
- Date & Time: October 23, 2023 at 14:00 IST (8:30 GMT)
- Live Streaming: Star Sports Network, Disney+Hotstar
Pakistan vs Afghanistan Pitch Report
The pitch at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai is traditionally spinner-friendly, meaning that it is dry, slow, and cracks up quickly, leading to low-scoring matches. Batting becomes increasingly difficult as the game progresses, so it is generally better to win the toss and choose to bat first. In the last match played at Chepauk, the pitch was hard and assisted spinners a lot, making it an even contest.
Moreover, there was noticeable bounce in the pitch, favoring both pace and spin bowlers. This scenario puts Afghanistan in a favorable position for their match against Pakistan, given their world-class spin department. However, Pakistan also boasts several talented bowlers, but their bowling performance in this tournament has been lackluster.
Overall, the pitch at Chepauk is likely to be challenging for both batsmen and bowlers. It will be important for both teams to adapt to the conditions and play smart cricket.
Ground Stats
- Total matches hosted: 26
- Matches won batting first: 15
- Matches won bowling first: 10
- Average 1st innings score: 233 runs
Pakistan vs Afghanistan Probable Playing XI
Pakistan Playing XI: Babar Azam (c), Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali
Afghanistan Playing XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hasmatullah Shahidi (c), Ikram Ali Khil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Naveen ul Haq, Fazal Haq Farooqi.
Head to Head Record
ODI Games
- Matches Played – 07
- Pakistan Won – 07
- Afghanistan Won -00
ODI World Cup Games
- Matches Played – 01
- Pakistan Won – 01
- Afghanistan Won -00
Top Fantasy Picks
| Pakistan | Afghanistan |
|---|---|
| Mohammad Rizwan | Rahmanullah Gurbaz |
| Babar Azam | Azmatullah Omarzai |
| Imam-ul-Haq | Rashid Khan |
| Haris Rauf | Mujeeb Ur Rahman |
| Shaheen Afridi | Mohammad Nabi |
Pakistan vs Afghanistan Probable Match Winner
Both the teams coming of a loss require a win desperately, promising a drool-worthy contest. Chennai being the venue, the contest seems to be an even one given the Afghanistan’s strength spin Strength. Having said that, We predict Pakistan to be favorites for the 22nd match of the tournament.
- Pakistan’s Chance of Winning: 63%
- Afghanistan’s Chance of Winning: 37%
