PAK vs AFG LIVE: Inzamam, Afridi warns Babar Azam– In-form Pakistan are all set to face off Afghanistan in their upcoming T20 World Cup match. Babar Azam and Co can storm into the semifinals with a victory against Mohd Nabi-led Afghanistan. Pakistan are well placed with victories against India and New Zealand but the spin kings Rashid Khan, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman can make the job difficult for Pakistan on Friday. Follow Pakistan vs Afghanistan live updates on insidesport.in
PAK vs AFG LIVE: Inzamam, Afridi warns Babar Azam and Co, ‘Don’t underestimate Afghanistan’
Former Pakistan cricketers Inzamam and Shahid Afridi have warned Pakistan ahead of the upcoming clash against Afghanistan.
“We should not underestimate any team in this format [T20 format], Afghanistan’s team is very good,” Shahid Afridi said Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Inzamam-ul-Haq said that Afghanistan cannot “be taken lightly.”
Afghanistan is yet to lose a T20I in the last couple of years (2020 & 2021). In fact, they have registered 13 victories in the last 17 matches, including a tie. When it comes to UAE, Afghanistan have registered 4 victories in a row in 2021. Even though Afghanistan have played lower-ranked teams, they can upset Pakistan. They beat Scotland by a margin of 130 runs in their opening match.
PAK vs AFG LIVE: Inzamam, Afridi warns Babar Azam and Co, ‘Don’t underestimate Afghanistan’
PAK vs AFG LIVE: Inzamam, Afridi warns Babar Azam- In-form Pakistan are all set to face off Afghanistan in their upcoming T20 World Cup match. Babar Azam and Co can storm into the semifinals with a victory against Mohd Nabi-led Afghanistan. Pakistan are well placed with victories against India and New Zealand but the spin kings Rashid Khan, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman can make the job difficult for Pakistan on Friday. Follow T20 World Cup live updates on insidesport.in
“We should not underestimate any team in this format [T20 format], Afghanistan’s team is very good,” Shahid Afridi said Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Inzamam-ul-Haq said that Afghanistan cannot “be taken lightly.”
PAK vs AFG LIVE: Inzamam, Afridi warns Babar Azam and Co, ‘Don’t underestimate Afghanistan’
Afghanistan
- Afghanistan is yet to lose a T20I in the last couple of years. In fact, they have registered 13 victories in the last 17 matches, including a tie.
- When it comes to UAE, Afghanistan have registered 4 victories in a row in 2021. Even though Afghanistan have played lower-ranked teams, they can upset Pakistan.
- Afghanistan batters dominated the Scotland bowlers with their power-hitting but now they have to contend with an attack which is one of the most dangerous in this event.
- They will have to show maturity and treat the balls on merit. Going after the attack blindly is not an option against Pakistan.
- If Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Najibullah Zadran can muscle the ball around, the world-class spinners in Rashid Khan and Mujeeb-Ur Rahman make Afghanistan a very balanced side.
- Bowling first looks the best option for them since Rashid and Rahman have the ability to stop even the best in the world.
- The batters can then devise a strategy around the chase since they do not lack the killer instinct but are still inexperienced to handle big-stage pressure matches.
- Putting pressure on Pakistan batters is the best chance for Afghanistan if they have to win this contest.
Pakistan
On the other hand, UAE is touted as the second home for Pakistan. They are known to host a number of series in the Gulf country. The recently-concluded PSL Phase 2 was also held in the UAE. They will be aiming to complete a hat-trick of wins in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
The way pacers Shahin Afridi, Hasan Ali and Haris Rauf have troubled the batters thus far, it’s highly unlikely that the Pakistan pace trio can be put under the pump by Afghans.
Add to that the experience of off-spinner Mohammed Hafeez and the guile of Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan, it’s no mean task for Afghanistan to dictate this side.
For Pakistan to do well, their top-order, manned by the skipper Azam himself and Mohammad Rizwan, who has been in good touch, needs to perform.
Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Hafeez would be required to do the job, should the openers fail.
The two teams have met only once in 2013 where Pakistan defeated Afghanistan where they won by 6 wickets in Sharjah.
PAK vs AFG LIVE: Inzamam, Afridi warns Babar Azam and Co, ‘Don’t underestimate Afghanistan’
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(with PTI inputs)
