Afghanistan is gearing up for a historic encounter as they prepare to face the five-time champions, Australia, in what promises to be a crucial match in their journey through the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. This showdown will be pivotal for Afghanistan’s aspirations to secure a place in the knockout stages of the tournament.

Date and Venue

Tuesday 7 November, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Afghanistan vs Australia Live Score Cricket World Cup 2023

Squads

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.

Afghanistan squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, Naveen ul Haq.

Afghanistan’s path to the semi-finals hinges on winning their remaining two matches at the World Cup, starting with a formidable challenge against Australia. The Afghan team is riding high on confidence, having secured three consecutive victories that have revitalized their campaign. Their resurgence followed a costly defeat at the hands of Bangladesh in the tournament opener.

On the other hand, the five-time champions, Australia, initially faced a slow start to the tournament with losses in their first two fixtures. However, they have since found their form, winning five consecutive matches and positioning themselves within striking distance of a semi-final berth.

Australia’s prospects of qualifying for the semi-finals may receive a boost with the likely return of key players Mitch Marsh and Glenn Maxwell, who missed the previous victory over England. Their availability presents a selection challenge for Pat Cummins’ side, as they aim to accommodate all their star players in the playing XI.

The question remains whether all-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green will make way for Marsh and Maxwell, or if one of the specialist batters will be relegated to the bench. Australia boasts talent in every department, making it imperative for Afghanistan to deliver their best performance to challenge the 2015 World Cup champions.

Key Players

Australia – Adam Zampa

Throughout the tournament, Australia’s spinner Adam Zampa has proven to be a formidable force against opposition batters, accumulating 19 wickets at an impressive average of 17.15. While Afghanistan possesses its share of quality spinners, the challenge of handling Zampa’s leg-spin remains to be seen. Zampa, with his recent string of remarkable performances, has stood out as a cut above the rest. Although he failed to claim wickets in Australia’s opening match, Zampa has since recorded three four-wicket hauls and two three-wicket hauls, showcasing his leg-spin prowess.

Afghanistan – Rahmanullah Gurbaz

While skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi leads Afghanistan with 282 runs in the tournament, Rahmanullah Gurbaz is not far behind, accumulating 234 runs at an average of 33.42. What sets Gurbaz apart is his explosive strike rate of 99.15. In this pivotal clash against Australia, a rapid start during the Powerplay will be essential for Afghanistan, and Gurbaz’s ability to accelerate early in the innings can apply significant pressure on the Australian bowlers and provide Afghanistan with a valuable advantage.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.

Afghanistan squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, Naveen ul Haq.