The Chennai chapter of Pakistan’s campaign in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 begins on Monday when they play spin-packed Afghanistan at MA Chidambaram Stadium.
After Afghanistan, Pakistan will stay in the city to play South Africa on 27 October for their second and last match of the tournament here.
Pakistan, after four games, are fifth on the points table with two wins and as many losses. After following the tournament with remarkable wins over the Netherlands and Sri Lanka, which saw them make the record for the highest successful chase in the history of the tournament, Pakistan have had a few tough outings.
Pakistan are eager to leave Chennai 4-2 up and fast bowler Shaheen Afridi believes that learnings from the last two matches will help the side in the upcoming matches.
“We are aware of the expectations from the team and we are eager to fulfil them,” he told PCB Digital ahead of the match against Afghanistan.
“A loss is a loss and we need to accept it. But, learning from it would be better for the team. These two matches were very important for us, but we are very much alive in the tournament. We are here to make history [by winning the World Cup].”
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It will be Afghanistan’s second match on the trot here in Chennai. While the experience of playing New Zealand, albeit in a defeat, may help them, they are buoyed by a win over England.
Afghanistan, however, are yet to defeat Pakistan in ODIs but Shaheen did not want to emphasize the past record.
“There is no room for complacency in a tournament like the World Cup as any team can beat anyone, something that we have seen so far.
“Afghanistan have been playing good cricket and they have recently defeated England. We will have to show up with the best skills against them. They have world-class spinners, but, thanks to Almighty, our batting unit has also been doing well.”
For the unversed, Chennai’s conditions are said to be more spin-friendly but Shaheen was eager to find the reverse swing in the middle overs.
“There are many venues in India that favour spinners and Chennai is one such venue. As fast bowlers, our role is to make the most of the reverse swing on offer in the middle overs and in the latter stages of the game.”
READ: Imam-ul-Haq says Pakistan ‘will be a different team’ against Afghanistan