In Match 22 of the 2023 World Cup in Chennai, Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, won the coin toss and elected to bat against Afghanistan on Monday. Both teams have made a single change in their starting lineups. Shadab Khan replaces Mohammad Nawaz, who is suffering from a fever, in Pakistan’s squad. Meanwhile, Afghanistan has opted for an additional spinner, with Noor Ahmad taking the place of Fazalhaq Farooqi.

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Both Pakistan and Afghanistan are looking to rebound after tough losses in their previous two matches. Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, is eager to return to winning form. Afghanistan, coming off a 149-run defeat against New Zealand, aims to secure their second victory in the tournament.

On paper, Pakistan is considered the favorite, but the Chepauk pitch, known for favoring spinners, gives Afghanistan hope. They boast a promising spin lineup led by Rashid Khan, with support from Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi. However, Afghanistan’s inconsistency in batting has been a challenge.

Pakistan, despite assembling a talented squad, has struggled to perform consistently, managing wins against smaller opponents like the Netherlands and Sri Lanka. They faced a dramatic collapse against India and couldn’t put up a fight against Australia. Pakistan is determined to put on a strong performance against Afghanistan. While a loss won’t be devastating, they are eager to secure two valuable points and remain competitive in the race for the semifinals.