Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi on Thursday targeted one more huge scalp in the type of Australia after knocking England out of the Champions Trophy, with a semi-final place the reward.
The Champions Trophy debutants sent out England collapsing out of the 50-over event with an exhilarating eight-run triumph in Lahore on Wednesday.
Afghanistan likewise surprised after that owners England at the 2023 World Cup in India.
Next they play globe champs Australia at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Friday in their last team suit and should win to get to the last 4 of the eight-nation event.
“Obviously a win like this boosts every team’s confidence and strengthens them,” Shahidi stated after Afghanistan sent out England packaging.
“Our morale has increased even more.”
The captain included: “The upcoming match will be crucial for both teams in the race for the semi-finals.
“Australia is a hard and great group. I have actually stated this in previous meetings also– that we came right here to play great cricket.
“We will try to play a positive game. Just like we defeated England today, we hope to beat Australia as well.
“We will not place that stress on ourselves by assuming way too much concerning the semi-final credentials.”
Rain is forecast in Lahore but even a washout will keep Afghanistan in contention of reaching the semi-finals, but they will then have to depend on other results or net run-rate.
– Zadran sparkles –
Afghanistan, a growing force in white-ball cricket, and Australia have played four ODIs previously with the Australians winning all of them.
At the 2023 World Cup, Afghanistan had Australia on the ropes at 91-7 when a cramping Glenn Maxwell hammered an unbeaten 201 to pull off victory in hot and humid Mumbai.
Afghanistan roared back to beat Australia at last year’s T20 World Cup and they reached the semi-finals in a landmark achievement.
Asked about the threat that the big-hitting all-rounder Maxwell poses, Shahidi said: ” I understand that he played truly well in the 2023 World Cup, yet that becomes part of background.”
Afghanistan suffered a 107-run hammering to South Africa in their Champions Trophy opener last week but bounced back to post 325-7 against England.
Ibrahim Zadran smashed 177, the highest individual innings in Champions Trophy history, after Afghanistan chose to bat and were struggling on a precarious 37-3.
In reply, England were all out for 317 to suffer their second straight defeat.
The 23-year-old Zadran, who scored 17 against South Africa, is back in action after a long lay-off following ankle surgery.
“Even though he was far from cricket for 6 months, it’s never ever very easy for a gamer to return from injury and make such a solid resurgence in a high-stakes suit,” said Shahidi.
” I am exceptionally pleased for him due to the fact that he is an extremely skilled and tireless gamer.”
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