Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi yesterday said that his team were targeting another big scalp in the form of Australia after knocking England out of the ICC Champions Trophy, with a semi-final spot the prize.
The Champions Trophy debutants sent England crashing out of the 50-over tournament with a thrilling eight-run victory in Lahore on Wednesday.
Afghanistan similarly stunned then-holders England at the Cricket World Cup in India in 2023.
Photo: EPA-EFE
They face world champions Australia at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium today in their final group match and must win to reach the last four of the eight-nation tournament.
“Obviously a win like this boosts every team’s confidence and strengthens them,” Shahidi said after Afghanistan sent England packing. “Our morale has increased even more.”
“The upcoming match will be crucial for both teams in the race for the semi-finals,” Shahidi said. “Australia is a tough and good team. I have said this in previous conferences as well — that we came here to play good cricket.”
“We will try to play a positive game,” he said. “Just like we defeated England ... we hope to beat Australia as well.”
“We won’t put that pressure on ourselves by thinking too much about the semi-final qualification,” he added.
Rain is forecast in Lahore, but even a washout would keep Afghanistan in contention of reaching the semi-finals, but they will then have to depend on other results or net run rate.
Afghanistan, a growing force in white-ball cricket, and Australia have played four ODIs previously, with Australia winning all of them.
They posted 325-7 against England on Wednesday. Ibrahim Zadran smashed 177, the highest individual innings in Champions Trophy history, after Afghanistan chose to bat and were struggling at 37-3.
In reply, England were all out for 317 to suffer their second straight defeat.
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