In a thrilling turn of events, Afghanistan has once again showcased their prowess in the 2023 World Cup, securing their first-ever victory over Pakistan in ODI cricket. Facing the daunting task of chasing 283 runs, the team led by Hashmatullah Shahidi achieved the target after losing just two wickets in 49 overs, ensuring a massive eight-wicket win to their name.
The cricketing world has been abuzz with a video of Ajay Jadeja endorsing the Afghan team, which gained traction after their recent win. Serving as the mentor for the Afghanistan cricket team, the ex-Indian captain's association with the squad ahead of the ICC event has evidently been influential.
This video dates back to early October when Afghanistan squared off against India in Delhi. Despite India, under Rohit Sharma's captaincy, clinching a decisive victory, Afghanistan's resilience has been evident. They've since registered two significant wins: defending a 285-run target against the reigning champions, England, and successfully chasing 283 runs against Pakistan.
With two victories from five matches, Afghanistan occupies the sixth position in the points table, mirroring Pakistan's record. Both teams remain in the fray for a semi-final berth.
Remarkably, Afghanistan is only participating in their third ODI World Cup. Their debut in 2015 saw them triumph over Scotland, though they couldn't secure any wins in 2019. The 2023 World Cup brought heightened expectations for Afghanistan, and they've exceeded them so far. The cricketing community eagerly awaits to see if they can progress to the next stage.
Afghanistan's next challenge is against Sri Lanka on 30th October in Pune, while Pakistan will be up against South Africa on 27th October.
For Pakistan, at the moment, they are in fifth place. But, after suffering three back-to-back defeats, a subsequent loss to South Africa this week might potentially seal the 1992 champions' exit from the knock-out rounds.
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