Pakistan vs Afghanistan Match Prediction: The Sportsrush presents before you the Match Prediction of warm-up match between PAK and AFG.
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The build-up to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 has finally begun. With the first of 10 warm-up matches getting underway from Friday, the excitement couldn’t be more palpable. Pakistan and Afghanistan will contesting against each other in the first of the unofficial encounters.
The fixture couldn’t come at a better time for two sides who have been struggling to get going at the international stage for quite some time. While much was billed from Afghanistan given their momentous rise to the cricketing arena, the last couple of months have been way too unstable for them.
While there have been glimpses of sublime cricketing moments from them, they’ve leaked runs against both Ireland and Scotland.
Elsewhere, Pakistan have more issues to address. They have been torn apart in 2019, losing 9 straight matches with the most recent being a complete wipe out by England who won the five match ODI series 4-0. Having replaced Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan and Abid Ali with Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz and Asif Ali, Pakistan would be hoping to get things right tomorrow.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan – Pitch Report
Despite the County Ground in Bristol having just an average score of 244 for the side batting first and an even more lowly 216 for the chasing side, the surface here like all across England have undergone a massive redevelopment.
The track is going to play to the batsmen strengths, with the ball coming nicely onto the bat and the short boundaries seeing the ball finding the fence with ease.
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The last ODI played here was a clash where over 700 runs were score as England chased down the 359 target set to them with consummate ease. Expect another flat batting surface with just the slightest hint of movement on it in the early part of the innings.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan – Key Battles
Babar Azam vs Gulbadin Naib
Coming in at number 3, Babar Azam has turned out to be Pakistan’s most reliable player over the course of this year. Continuously coming up with the runs, he scored a couple of half-centuries and a century against England in 4 matches to become a steady player for them in their batting unit.
He was bowled for just 15 at the same venue and with his weaknesses in the early part of the innings against the new, shiny ball clearly evident, Afghanistan will turn to their specialist pacers. With figures of 6-43, Naib destructed Ireland’s batting unit to craft a series-leveling win for his country and we expect him to trouble Azam as well.
Imam-ul-Haq vs Dawlat Zadran
The way Pakistan’s bowling unit was bashed around by England, Pakistan are going to need their batting order to come good for them. Another batsman who is in good form is opener Imam-ul-Haq who should make a return for this unofficial match after recovering from a shoulder injury sustained against England. If he can get past the early period of enterprising pace that Afghanistan will throw his way, Pakistan can expect a big innings from him.
However, Afghanistan will be looking to make early inroads into Pakistan’s batting unit knowing that once the top-order departs, Pakistan have nothing else to offer. Dawlat Zadran will be used judiciously and early on and the deviation and the shape on the ball coming across into Imam could see him find it a tepid ask in getting under the deliveries.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan – What numbers suggest?
In the three matches the two sides have faced-off in, Afghanistan are yet to register a win. They’ve been defeated by Pakistan in all the encounters the two sides have played at neutral venues. The last time the two met was at the Asia Cup were Pakistan just about managed to win by 3 wickets in the final over.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan – Final Verdict
Despite Pakistan going winless in their last 9 encounters, what will work in their favour is the fact that they are familiar with these conditions. They’ve played in the country over the last one month and have a better idea of what will work on this surface and what won’t.
We expect this to be a high scoring encounter, one where 300 will easily be peeled past. What will work in Pakistan’s way will be Afghanistan’s over reliance on a couple of players in their batting unit and if they can get them packing cheaply, Pakistan will win this one.
