Must-win game for Afghanistan to keep hopes alive  

Betting Odds

Our Predictions 

• Babar Azam has odds of 3.32 to be the best batsman for Pakistan.  
• Ibrahim Zadran has odds of 4.01 to be Afghanistan's best batsman. 
• Shaheen Afridi has odds of 3.39 to be Pakistan's best bowler.  
• Rashid Khan has odds of 2.78 to be the best bowler for Afghanistan.  

MATCH PREVIEW     

The stakes are high as Pakistan meets Afghanistan in the 22nd game of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Pakistan has suffered back-to-back losses, and Australia tore apart their bowling in the last game. The side must bounce back and improve its position on the points table. Betting sites see them as the favorites to win here, and they must live up to that reputation. Afghanistan has struggled, and key players have been inconsistent. They went down against New Zealand in the last game and shall look to play to their strengths. Since both sides must win this game, we expect a close contest in the field.  

Pakistan Preview     

Babar Azam and his men will feel the heat after two consecutive losses. They bowled poorly against the Australians, losing the game by 62 runs in a high-scoring contest. They are down to the fifth spot on the points table and must win this game to move up on the points table. Azam must lead from the front and take his side to a win to restore confidence in the camp.  

Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq have played well at the top, and the pair will look to provide the side with a good start. Middle-order partnerships will be vital as the Afghans have a strong spin attack. Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Saud Shakeel must do well for the side to win. They will expect a good show from Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Nawaz towards the end. 

The Pakistani bowling attack has looked toothless in the last two games. Shaheen Afridi picked five wickets in the previous game and must get early breakthroughs with Hasan Ali. Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan must use their experience in the middle overs. Mohammad Hawaz and Iftikhar Ahmed must do well in the supporting role.  

Expected Starting XI for Pakistan     

Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf 

Afghanistan Preview      

It is a must-win game for Hashmatullah Shahidi's side. They went down by 149 runs in the last game against New Zealand, their third loss in four games. Apart from their win against England, they haven't been able to use their spin-bowling strength well. Shahidi would like a strong show from his players in this game as they fight to keep their hopes alive in the tournament.  

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran haven't been consistent, and they will look to provide the side with a good start in this game. The middle order has a lot of experience and will need runs from Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, and Azmatullah Omarzai. Ikram Alikhil, Mohammad Nabi, and Rashid Khan are good hitters, and they will look to add quick runs in the final overs.  

Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Fazalhaq Farooqi have done well with the new ball, and the side will expect a good start from the pair in this game. Naveen-ul-Haq, Rashid Khan, and Mohammad Navi have done well in the middle overs, and the side will need a strong show from them to take on the Pakistani batting line-up. Azmatullah Omarzai adds variety to this attack, making it strong.   

Expected Starting XI for Afghanistan      

Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi 

TOSS: To Bowl First      

We have seen the side chasing the score-winning twice in three games played here. It will be a high-pressure contest, and losing early wickets can set a team back. Both captains would like to play it safe here; hence, we believe the side winning the toss will likely opt for bowling first in the game.    

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS      

The skies over Chennai would clear, and the conditions shall be hot and humid during the game. The wicket is slow and challenging to bat on. Batsmen must be cautious and look to rotate the strike. The side batting first shall be happy to put 280 runs on the board, which they can defend with good bowling.  

OUR PREDICTION      

Afghanistan will be low on confidence after the last game's performance. They have lost games by significant margins, and the batting line-up hasn't struck form yet. The Pakistani batting line-up is in good form, and they have a good record against Afghanistan in ODIs. We expect it to be a close contest, but Pakistan shall have an edge according to our cricket betting tips.  

Our Prediction is for Pakistan to win.