England is all set to take on the Afghanistan in Match 13 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 on Sunday, October 15 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Both the teams have a star-studded squad that can change the course of the game with their abilities. England is the favourite to win this encounter against Afghanistan.
England and Afghanistan have a fierce rivalry in the format. Both teams have played 2 ODI matches, with England winning 2 games and Afghanistan winning 0 games so far in the head to head encounters. In this article, we will take a look at the key player battles to watch out for in the match 13 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 between England and Afghanistan.
Also Read: ICC ODI World Cup 2023: England vs Afghanistan Weather Forecast and Pitch Report for Today Match
Here are three player battles to watch out for during ENG vs AFG match:
1) Jos Buttler vs Rashid Khan
England’s captain Jos Buttler is eager to find his form in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. His clash with Rashid Khan, one of the world’s top spinners, will be a fascinating encounter. While they haven’t met in ODIs, they have faced each other in 11 T20 matches. Rashid has dismissed Buttler four times, conceding only 50 runs at a strike rate of 69.4.
2) Hashmatullah Shahidi vs Adil Rashid
Afghanistan’s captain Hashmatullah Shahidi shoulders the responsibility of his team’s batting lineup. He showed promise with an 80-run innings against India in the last game. Shahidi’s battle against Adil Rashid will be intriguing. Although they have only met once in an ODI, Shahidi managed to score 25 runs off 22 deliveries against Rashid, including a boundary and a six.
3) Joe Root vs Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Experienced batsman Joe Root has been in excellent form in the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023, with two consecutive fifties in the tournament. His upcoming duel with the fourth-ranked ODI bowler, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, will be worth watching. In their sole encounter, Root struggled to score, managing only seven runs off 13 deliveries against Rahman’s spin.