Pakistan is all set to take on the Afghanistan in Match 22 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 on Monday, October 23 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Both the teams have a star-studded squad that can change the course of the game with their abilities. Afghanistan is the favourite to win this encounter against Pakistan.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have a fierce rivalry in the format. Both teams have played 7 ODI matches, with Pakistan winning 7 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 22 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Also Read: ICC ODI World Cup 2023: Pakistan vs Afghanistan Top 3 Players Expected to Perform in Today Match
Here are three player battles to watch out for during PAK vs AFG match:
1) Babar Azam vs Rashid Khan
Pakistan’s captain and batting maestro, Babar Azam, faces off against Afghanistan’s spin sensation, Rashid Khan. Babar has scored 48 runs from 53 deliveries against Rashid’s spin, with two dismissals, resulting in an average of 24.0 and a strike rate of 90.6. This middle-over clash between two cricketing giants has the potential to set the tone for the innings.
2) Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs Shaheen Afridi
Afghanistan’s dynamic opener, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, is poised to take on Pakistan’s pace spearhead, Shaheen Afridi. Their previous encounters have seen Gurbaz accumulating 36 runs from 61 balls and falling to Shaheen once, yielding an average of 36 at a strike rate of 59.0. The battle will revolve around Shaheen’s knack for early swing against Gurbaz’s aggressive approach.
3) Mohammad Rizwan vs Mohammad Nabi
Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batsman, Mohammad Rizwan, squares off against the seasoned off-spin of Mohammad Nabi. In their brief encounters, Rizwan has managed 7 runs from 7 deliveries, boasting a strike rate of 100. This matchup in the middle overs holds significance, with Nabi’s experience and Rizwan’s prowess against spin making it a pivotal duel.