Fresh from qualifying for the 2025 Champions trophy, Afghanistan face off against five-time champions Australia in their penultimate clash of the World Cup 2023. With a semi-final clash potentially on the horizon, skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and chose to bat first.
Australia will be without star batter Steve Smith, who was suffering from vertigo while attending the pre-match press conference on Monday, November 7. The side have also dropped Cameron Green as Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh return to the playing XI. For Afghanistan, there is one change with Naveen Ul Haq taking the place of Fazalhaq Farooqi's place in the playing XI.
Australia's Playing XI
Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis(w), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Afghanistan's Playing XI
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil(w), Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq
What is the Pitch Report?
Very flat and very even, but it is probably on the drier side than I have seen in the past. I can clearly see there's not enough grass cover on this pitch because it is unlike a Wankhede pitch. Advantage Afghanistan because of the kind of track that is there, it might grip and turn a little bit whether it is bowling first or second. It is always best, with humidity around, to bat first and put runs on the board," said Aaron Finch alongside Sanjay Bangar.
What did the captain's say?
"We would have had a bat but it is fine. Two changes.. Steve struggled in the warm-ups and he's going to miss out, Cam Green misses out as well, Maxwell and Marsh are in. Really happy with the way we have gone, five in a row, one of the most pleasing thing is we have 14 guys played so far and everyone has played well, long may that continue. IT is always a factor, it was a bit cooler than it was a month ago, we will be fine we have got plenty of bowling options," Australia skipper Pat Cummins said at the toss.
"The wicket looks good now and we are hopeful it will seam and spin in the second innings. We have done well chasing but you also have to look at the opposition and the ground. He (Sachin Tendulkar) is a legend of the game, we were excited to see him and learn from him, he had some words for us and we will try to learn from that," was the opinion of the Afghanistan skipper.
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