Excitement brews as Pakistan takes on Afghanistan in a thrilling three-match one-day international (ODI) series, set to kick off in Sri Lanka on Tuesday. The clash is not just about cricket; it’s about gearing up for the forthcoming Asia Cup and World Cup competitions.
In a historic move, Pakistan and Afghanistan are ready to face off in their first bilateral ODI series. This showdown comes as a crucial preparation phase for the impending Asia Cup and the highly anticipated World Cup. The Asia Cup, a six-nation tournament, is scheduled to commence in Sri Lanka and Pakistan on August 30, while the global spectacle, the World Cup, will unfold in India starting October 5.
For Afghanistan, this series is a homecoming of sorts. Due to security concerns, they have been unable to host international cricket matches in their own country. Now, in a foreign land, they aim to make their mark on the ODI stage against a formidable Pakistani side.
Captain Babar Azam leads the Pakistani team, holding the title of the top-ranked ODI batsman. Alongside him are the skilled openers, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq, who rank third and fourth, respectively. The team’s strength also lies in its potent pace attack, featuring Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf.
Afghanistan has the world-class spinner Rashid Khan back in their ranks after he withdrew from the English tournament, The Hundred. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi is at the helm, and the team is infused with new talent in the form of fast bowlers Abdul Rahman, Mohammad Saleem Safi, and Wafadar Momand.
Azam acknowledges Afghanistan’s progress as a team, emphasizing their recent triumph over Bangladesh in a 2-1 ODI series. He stresses that Pakistan will not underestimate their opponents and anticipates a competitive battle. Despite Pakistan’s perfect record of winning all four ODIs against Afghanistan since their first encounter in 2012, Azam remains cautious, expressing that the team’s strong players can tackle spin bowling effectively.
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Hambantota will witness the start of the series on Tuesday, followed by the remaining two matches in Colombo on Thursday and Saturday. The venues provide a fitting backdrop to the intense competition that is expected to unfold.
Squads in the Spotlight:
Pakistan: Babar Azam (capt), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Haris, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ikram Alikhil, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Wafadar Momand
As cricket enthusiasts gear up for the Pakistan-Afghanistan ODI series, the anticipation is palpable. With both teams eyeing bigger prizes in the form of upcoming tournaments, this series promises cricket fans around the world an exciting display of talent, sportsmanship, and a celebration of the spirit of the game.
