With the ODI World Cup 2023 in full swing, Afghanistan's head coach Jonathan Trott aims at handing Pakistan another jolt in the tournament. Afghanistan and Pakistan will be up against each other on October at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Reflecting on their past encounters, especially the closely-fought game earlier this year, Trott believes in Afghanistan's ability to turn the tables. The riveting rivalry between the two teams, filled with passion and intensity, is set to light up the stadium on Monday.
In Trott's words during the pre-match press conference, "I think for them (Afghans), it's a rivalry that excites them. It's a rivalry that sometimes in the past has been very passionate... And both teams respect each other but are very desperate to win."
Historically, Pakistan have managed to keep the upper hand, as evidenced by their 3-0 victory in a three-match ODI series in August. However, Afghanistan's spirit remains undeterred, with Trott emphasising, "We've had an ODI series against them recently where we should have won a few games, (but) we didn't. So hopefully, we can put that right tomorrow."
Chennai's Chepauk Stadium, where Afghanistan previously experienced a heavy 149-run defeat to New Zealand, will play host to this anticipated clash. Assessing the pitch and the overall dynamics of the game, Trott stated, "Chennai is normally a good wicket. So, everybody's got to put in a good team performance if we want to beat the likes of a strong side like Pakistan."
The emphasis is not just on the spinners but on the collective performance of the team. As Trott mentioned, "It's everybody's job. It's not just the spinners' job to win games. There's no reliance on just spinners."
Afghanistan's precarious position at the bottom of the points table necessitates this collective effort more than ever. To maintain a fighting chance in the semifinal race, a win against Pakistan is almost imperative.
Reflecting on the gravity of the World Cup matches, Trott opined, "Every game is a must-win game. This is a World Cup, and every game is important."
Given Pakistan's recent setbacks, suffering consecutive losses to India and Australia, Trott senses an opportunity. He asserted that Afghanistan would aim to capitalize on this vulnerable phase of the Pakistani team. He said, "We always look to put up put the opposition under pressure straight away, so we'll be looking to do that tomorrow." He further acknowledged the longstanding rivalry and the emotional charge it brings, concluding, “We know the Pakistan team will be very determined to win tomorrow and certainly want to sort of snap that losing streak of the two games.”
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