Pakistan vs Afghanistan Warm-up match Preview: TSR presents Predicted Playing 11, Toss prediction and Weather Report for tomorrow’s clash
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The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup is here, and we can’t wait for it to commence. The showpiece mega event is about to kick-off tomorrow with its set of Practice matches. It will be Pakistan vs Afghanistan first up in tomorrow in Bristol, where each of the two teams will look to get the permutations and combinations right before the main tournament starts from May 30, 2019.
The teams will be allowed to bring into play, all of their 15 players at some point in time during the match. The last time these two teams clashed against each other was during the Asia Cup in September 2018. Pakistan had defeated Afghanistan by 3 wickets in that game.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan warm-up match Preview
Form Guide
Pakistan have not had the greatest of limited-overs format memories off-late. They’ve lost 3 back-to-back ODI bilateral series against strong oppositions like England, Australia, and South Africa since 2018.
ALSO READ: List of all practice matches for ICC Cricket World Cup 2019
What’s more worse for them, is that they have not been able to even open their account in the previous two series. While they were drubbed 0-4 against England recently, they were annihilated 0-5 against Australia in their ‘adopted’ home UAE. Their bowling department is the real cause of worry for them as they couldn’t defend totals in excess of 340- scored thrice by their batsmen against England.
Afghanistan, on the other hand, have lost just one of their previous 5 ODI series (including the 2018 Asia Cup) while drawing and winning 2 series each. But the real problem for them is that they have only faced against teams like Ireland and Scotland during this period. Their form doesn’t really count as long as they lock horns against the best of sides in World Cricket.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan- Predicted Top playing 11
Although in a warm-up match any of the 15 players in the squad can be given an opportunity at some point in time during the game, the team management always has the 11 players in their mind, who they deserve should get into their grooves, and play themselves in more than the other players.
For Pakistan, they will be desperate to give their nearly last-moment inclusions- Mohammed Amir and Wahab Riaz as much practice and game time as possible. Thus, these two are expected to bowl as much as possible.
The third inclusion- Asif Ali is unlikely to feature in tomorrow’s warm-up game due to the tragic death of his 2-year-old daughter back home. Opening batsman Imam-Ul-Haq should also be available after he sustained an elbow injury during the 4th ODI against England. Also, marred by illness recently, leg-spinner Shadab Khan would also look to get into his groove tomorrow.
The batsmen, on the other hand are in quite some form for Pakistan as was visible in the recently concluded ODI series against England. They would look to continue with their good run of form.
For Afghanistan, they have a new captain in the form of Gulbadin Naib for the World Cup. The decision was amidst some criticism as he replaced the seasoned campaigner, Asghar Afghan who had captained the Afghan side for quite some time now.
Having not featured in the recent games for Afghnistan, veteran pacer Hamid Hassan should be tested in the fast bowling department, along with the likes of Noor Ali, Dawlat Zadran, and Rehmat Shah.
Mujeeb-Ur-Rehman, the mystery spinner was not in good form during the IPL. So he would be itching to get some practice as well along with the reliable spinning duo of Rashid Khan and Mohammed Nabi.
Pakistan Top 11
Sarfaraz Ahmed (C & W), Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Fakhar Zaman, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Imam-ul-Haq, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Hasnain.
Afghanistan Top 11
Gulbadin Naib (C), Hamid Hassan, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Hazratullah Zazai, Noor Ali Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Shahzad, Dawlat Zadran, Rashid Khan, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan- Pitch and Weather Condition
The weather is not expected to play a spoilsport in tomorrow’s warm-up game. The temperature will be in the range of 17-19 degrees celsius, with sunshine and cloudy intervals.
The pitch, on the other hand is going to be an absolute peach for the batsmen. We saw England chase down Pakistan’s 358 with 6 overs to spare, in the 3rd ODI recently at the same venue.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan -Toss Prediction
Pakistan bowlers went for aplenty in all the 4 completed ODIs against England recently. They couldn’t defend scores in excess of 340 in 3 ODIs, while let the English batsmen make a mockery of their bowling again in the 5th ODI as they scored 351/9 yet again. So going by their poor form with the ball, Pakistan would perhaps look to bowl first if they win the toss, and let their bowlers hit the right areas in the flat Bristol wicket.
Afghanistan has has not been aware of the English conditions, as to how the wicket plays and what the conditions are expected to be after the first innings. Thus, going by reputation of the Bristol wicket, the Afghans will look to bat first if they win the toss, and see how good their batters perform in front of the not-so-confident Pakistan bowling attack.
