Other than being an all-important fixture for either side, a tinge of rivalry might be added to the equation when Afghanistan takes on Pakistan within the ODI World Cup on the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday.
The Hashmatullah Shahidi-led aspect operates round its spin bowlers and the pitch in Chepauk is understood to help the tweakers. With the tried-and-tested Rashid Khan working in tandem with Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi, the Afghans have all of the components to provide yet one more upset this World Cup.
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However Afghanistan’s coach Jonathan Trott believes cricket is a collective effort and his aspect is rather more than simply its spinners.
“The factor is – with spinners, solely two or three are enjoying a recreation. And it’s the opposite eight as properly that need to play the sport in order that’s necessary. It’s all people’s job and never simply the spinners’ job to win video games,” mentioned Trott forward of the match towards Pakistan.
“There are batsmen who’ve obtained to place runs on the board or batsmen who’ve obtained to chase down a complete. So sure, the spinners are necessary and getting our choice is essential for the fixture however it’s a group effort,” he added.
Afghanistan opened its World Cup marketing campaign with two huge losses towards Bangladesh and India however discovered its mojo towards England to provide a 69-run upset, registering its second-ever win within the quadrennial showpiece.
Nonetheless, the ninth-ranked ODI aspect was rattled by New Zealand in its most up-to-date fixture within the very venue the place it should face Pakistan subsequent, conceding the sport by a whopping 149 runs. Failing to learn the character of the pitch and 5 dropped catches price Afghanistan large time.
Reflecting his aspect’s most up-to-date failure, Trott mentioned: “Clearly dropped catches don’t assist, particularly once you win the toss and bowl first. You wish to put the opposition underneath stress. We had a chance to do this with New Zealand, and we had them, I believe it was about 115 for 4 as properly at one stage.”
Afghanistan participant Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad throughout a apply session forward of the ICC Males’s Cricket World Cup 2023 match between Afghanistan and Pakistan at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.
| Photograph Credit score:
JOTHI RAMALINGAM B/ The Hindu
Afghanistan participant Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad throughout a apply session forward of the ICC Males’s Cricket World Cup 2023 match between Afghanistan and Pakistan at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.
| Photograph Credit score:
JOTHI RAMALINGAM B/ The Hindu
“, we allow them to get away. So, there are stuff you’d love to do in a different way, there are issues you can do higher, and we’ll be wanting tomorrow to do this,” he added.
Pakistan, however, has additionally hit a tough patch because the aspect suffered two consecutive demoralising losses towards India and England. However Trott emphasises that latest type could have minimal affect on the sport in hand.
“We all the time look to place the opposition underneath stress immediately so we’ll be wanting to do this tomorrow. I believe once we play Pakistan, type doesn’t come into the sport. There are lots of different issues that come into the sport with regard to the rivalry and the eagerness.”
“So, we all know the Pakistan group might be very decided to win tomorrow and positively wish to form of snap that dropping streak of the 2 video games. However once more, we wish to win simply as a lot as they do, in order that must be good,” mentioned the 42-year-old.