Even earlier than the adrenaline might subside after a heart-stopping, rollercoaster trip towards England on Wednesday evening in Lahore, Afghanistan’s ideas began to show towards Australia. Participant of the match Ibrahim Zadran, after his record-breaking 177, mentioned it will likely be essential to keep away from easy errors after they tackle Steve Smith’s males. Certain, knocking out England from the ICC Champions Trophy is a giant outcome for the match debutants, but it surely signified their rise in worldwide cricket that they aren’t simply right here for these one-off wins. The Afghanistan cricket story, inspiring as it’s, is just not a shock anymore. On Friday, they may stand with an opportunity so as to add one other chapter.
World Champions Australia know all too nicely how troublesome it’s to face Afghanistan. Rewind again to Mumbai on 7 November on the Wankhede Stadium. Each groups had an opportunity to succeed in the semifinals, and Afghanistan had Australia on the mat. Had Mujeeb Ur Rahman not put down a sitter towards Glenn Maxwell, the rest of the World Cup would have appeared an entire lot completely different. Mujeeb dropped the catch, Maxwell dropped an all-timer with a shocking double century. Afghan hearts have been damaged whereas Australia went on to be topped winners 12 days later in Ahmedabad. After all, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi was reminded about that Maxwell heist within the press convention, and the Afghanistan captain smiled.
“You assume we’ll come solely to play with Maxwell? Do you assume it will likely be like that?,” he requested. “We’ll plan for all Australian batters. I do know that he performed rather well in 2023 World Cup, however that’s a part of historical past. After that, we beat them in T20 World Cup, and we take into consideration all opposition workforce, we’re not coming to the bottom to plan on particular person participant. We’re not enjoying solely Maxwell – we’re enjoying Australia.”
Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai, heart, celebrates after profitable the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match towards England, in Lahore, Pakistan, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (AP Photograph)
Properly-rounded Afghanistan
Traditionally, Afghanistan have relied on the consistency of their spinners led by Rashid Khan and flashes of brilliance with the bat to win them matches. However there’s a extra rounded really feel to this facet led by Shahidi. In Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, they’ve openers able to enjoying match-changing knocks. In Azmatullah Omarzai, the reigning ICC ODI Males’s Cricketer of the Yr, they’ve a world-class allrounder within the making. His bowling approach which got here for reward from Sachin Tendulkar through the World Cup, has advanced right into a potent weapon, with hit-the-deck quick balls an important a part of his arsenal other than the power to maneuver the brand new ball both manner because the Indian nice had famous. In Mohammad Nabi, they’ve a wily (outdated) buyer able to offering the large hits within the decrease order and getting by way of his overs of spin with minimal fuss and most readability. Then there are the likes of Gulbadin Naib and Fazalhaq Farooqi, dependable operators able to placing their arms up when referred to as upon.
The important thing males, in fact, will nonetheless be their major spinners, Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad. Towards South Africa in Karachi, they didn’t discover a lot help from the floor and went for runs. Rashid went wicketless, Noor struggled together with his line greater than size and was costly. Towards England in Lahore, the place there was a bit extra help, Nabi, Rashid and Noor have been within the sport a bit extra. It was nonetheless the pacers doing the harm when it comes to wickets, however the spin trio might apply some dot ball stress at crucial instances.
Climate menace
With the Gadaffi Stadium being the venue as soon as once more, the stress will firmly on the bowlers from each side. Australia’s bowling unit, severely depleted when it comes to star energy, conceded 351 earlier than it was chased down. Afghanistan conceded 317 of their defence of 325. However there may be forecast of rain in Lahore on Friday, particularly through the daytime. Australia’s game-time (with their match towards South Africa in Rawalpindi rained out with out toss) and coaching schedule has been curtailed due to the dangerous climate, however a washout on this digital quarterfinal shall be sufficient for Australia to qualify. Afghanistan will want Qudrat ka Nizam on their facet as they need to win a accomplished match to progress.
Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott made it clear he doesn’t see this as a match of unequals anymore, no David vs Goliath narrative right here. In spite of everything, Afghanistan have pushed Australia to their limits within the final three ICC conferences, even defeating them on the 2024 T20 WC. “I say this to the gamers as nicely… that Afghanistan’s by no means going to be taken frivolously ever once more,” Trott mentioned. “We’ve bought to be ready as a result of I do know Australia aren’t going to take us frivolously. Whereas up to now, maybe individuals would have seen the fixture and thought it was a bit bit simpler than enjoying a historic Check Nation. However on this format, in these circumstances, I don’t see that. I see each sport that we play goes to be aggressive and each sport we go into I anticipate to win.”
