The World Cup is reaching its halfway point and both sides are coming close to must-win territory. Pakistan has not been up to the mark after coming into both the Asia Cup and World Cup looking like a side that could make a serious impact in both tournaments. Afghanistan have made an impact, but not enough to add to their win tally.

PAK vs AFG Match Details

Date: October 23rd, 2023

Time:  2:00 PM IST

Venue: Chennai

PAK vs AFG Weather Report

The weather looks pretty clear for the upcoming fixture.

PAK vs AFG Pitch Report

The Chennai track has helped the spinners as expected. Runs on the board will be a better option on a wearing track.

PAK vs AFG Head-to-Head

PAK vs AFG Predicted Playing XI

AFG Playing XI

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen Ul Haq

PAK Playing XI

Abdullah Shahfique, Imam Ul Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Ifthikar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Nawaz/Usama Mir, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf

See Also: https://cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/crickets-biggest-event-kicks-off-as-a-generation-faces-off

PAK vs AFG Key Players

Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Rahmanullah Gurbaz remains key for Afghanistan. His starts usually determine the way Afghanistan go with the bat and a lightning start from him will put the out-of-form Pakistan bowlers under pressure.

Babar Azam

Babar Azam was the highest scorer against India but his performances are still lacking the impact that they are known to create. He is yet to score big and take control of an encounter, giving his wicket away cheaply, and struggling to create a foundation for his team.

PAK vs AFG Match Tips

With Pakistan not looking at their best Afghanistan will be feeling they have a chance. They have the players, and have been putting in the efforts, but will have to excel in all three departments together to make an impact, leaving Pakistan ahead slightly still.

Match Prediction: Pakistan Will Win the Match

PAK vs AFG Match Preview

Pakistan are set to lock horns with Afghanistan in the next fixture of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. The match will take place at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on October 23, Monday. Pakistan are coming on the back of two consecutive losses, after securing two consecutive wins in the tournament. Afghanistan, on the flip side, managed to win only one match in the ICC contest so far .

PAK vs AFG Match Details

Pakistan vs Afghanistan – 22th Match

Venue: M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Date & Time: 23th October 2023 at 02:00 PM IST 

Live Streaming: Fancode App

PAK vs AFG Venue Stats

PAK vs AFG Pitch Report

The wicket prepared for the game is going to be decent for batting with some help for the pace bowlers. The surface will help pace bowlers in this situation.

PAK vs AFG Weather Report

For this game, we can expect another sunny and hot day in chennai. The temperature will reach 34°F and will not fall below 30°F.

PAK vs AFG Last Five Matches

PAK vs AFG Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

PAK vs AFG Probable Playing XIs:

Pakistan Probable Playing XIs

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

Afghanistan Probable Playing XIs

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

Topmost Picks for PAK vs AFG Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – Pakistan

• Abdullah Shafique – He scored a brisk half-century against a quality Australian bowling attack and that should give the youngster plenty of confidence.
• Shaheen Shah Afridi – The tall left-arm opening bowler bowled Pakistan’s only maiden in the win over Bangladesh. Alongside this, he also dismissed Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim.

Top Picks – Afghanistan

• Hashmatullah Shahidi – The left-handed skipper was very impressive on this pitch against a very strong Indian bowling attack in the last match and has been in good ODI form over the last month.
• Naveen-ul-Haq – The right-arm medium fast bowler was the most economical of Afghanistan’s bowling attack in Match 9. He went wicketless in the last game but still has an ODI strike-rate of 28.8.

At the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium on Wednesday, Pakistan advanced to the Asia Cup final with a thrilling one-wicket victory over Afghanistan. Pakistan needed 11 runs off the last over to reach its 130-run mark, with tailenders Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain in the middle. Although it appeared that Pakistan could lose against Afghanistan, Naseem had different plans. The pacer smashed two sixes off Fazalhaq Farooqi‘s first two deliveries, whipping up a commotion in the Pakistani dressing room.

Drama began before those two balls when Pakistan lost the wicket of Asif Ali in the fifth ball of the 19th over after he had hit Fareed Ahmed Malik for a six in the previous ball. Not only did Fareed dismiss Asif, but he also went right up to the batter and gave him the fist pump in celebration of the catch. Asif, who disapproved of Fareed’s behaviour, lifted his bat before turning to leave. Asif was walking back when Fareed also did a shoulder barge on him.

Fortunately, other Afghan players stepped up to keep the two guys apart.

Pakistan’s win meant that India and Afghanistan are out of reckoning for the final to be played on Sunday as they are winless from two matches. With four points each, Pakistan and Sri Lanka qualified for the title clash.

Here is the video: Asif Ali and Afghanistan’s Fareed Ahmad involved in ugly fight at Sharjah

ALSO READ: PAK vs AFG: The heated after-match exchange

Invited to bat, Afghanistan posted 129 for six with Ibrahim Zadran top-scoring with a 37-ball 35. Pakistan chased down the target with four balls to spare, reaching 131 for 9 in 19.2 overs.

Shadab Khan top-scored for Pakistan with 36 while Iftikhar Ahmed made 30. For Afghanistan, Fareed Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi took three wickets apiece while Rashid Khan got two.

Pakistan may now enjoy its success in making it to the championship game. On September 11, they will face Sri Lanka in a summit confrontation.

Asia Cup 2022: Pakistan and Afghanistan delivered a nail-biting thriller in Sharjah in the Super 4 phase of the current Asian Cup on Wednesday. It won and secured a spot alongside Sri Lanka in the final. However, after the match, Sharjah’s cricketer’s stadium saw unpleasant scenes, including Afghan fans, clearly disappointed with the defeat, smashing chairs and attacking Pakistani fans.

In a video shared by former Pakistani pacesetter Shoaib Akhtar, an Afghan fan can be seen smashing a chair and throwing it at a Pakistani supporter.

“This is what Afghan fans are doing. This is what they’ve done in the past multiple times. This is a game and it’s supposed to be played and taken in the right spirit.@ShafiqStanikzai your crowd & your players both need to learn a few things if you guys want to grow in the sport,”

Akhtar wrote in a Twitter post

Shafiq Stanikzai, who happens to be the former president of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, said that no one can control the emotions of fans and that the whole country should not be taken with him when discussing such incidents. Akhtar replied.

“You can’t control the emotions of the crowd and such incidents happened in the world of cricket multiple, you should go ask Kabir Khan, Inzimam Bhai and @iRashidLatif68 how we treated them. Am giving you an advice next time baat ko nation pe Mat lena,”

wrote Stanikzai

ALSO READ: Asia Cup: Pakistan beat Afghanistan in last over thriller

As for the match between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Afghanistan batted first and scored 129/6 in 20 overs. Pakistan trailing 130, 16 overs put him over one with a score of 87/3. From then on, however, Pakistan fell apart and in his penultimate event he passed by 118/9.

They needed 11 to win the final and it was Naseem Shah who emerged as the Pakistani hero. 

After their establishing victory in the Asian Cup final, Pakistani players celebrated in ecstasy as well, with some wild scenes unfolding in Sharjah.