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An irritated Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi dismissed reminders of Glenn Maxwell’s 2023 double-hundred, emphasizing their give attention to the complete Australian workforce for the 2025 conflict.
Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (AP Picture)
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi wasn’t too impressed by being reminded of Glenn Maxwell’s particular double-hundred in opposition to his workforce within the 2023 World Cup forward of their conflict with Australia within the 2025 Champions Trophy on Friday. Shahidi mentioned that knock was ‘a part of historical past’ now and Afghanistan was not in Pakistan ‘solely to play with Maxwell’ and as an alternative, was getting ready for the ‘whole Australian workforce’.
Maxwell rescued Australia from 91/7 in chase of 292 with a once-in-a-generation knock of 201 (128). The knock helped Australia beat Afghanistan within the race for the semi-finals and so they finally went on to win the title by beating hosts India in Ahmedabad. The Champions Trophy state is ready equally, with Friday’s league stage match on the Gadaffi Stadium being a digital quarter-final.
“You suppose we’ll come solely to play with Maxwell? Do you suppose it is going to be like that? Now we have deliberate for the complete Australian workforce, and I do know that he (Maxwell) performed rather well within the 2023 World Cup, however that’s a part of historical past,” an agitated Shahidi mentioned on the pre-match press convention.
“After that, we beat them in T20 World Cup, and we take into consideration all (the complete) opposition workforce. We aren’t coming to the bottom with plan for particular person gamers. We’ll strive our greatest to return with the planning, and we’re not enjoying solely Maxwell – we’re enjoying Australia,” Shahidi mentioned.
Afghanistan misplaced their first group-stage match in opposition to South Africa however got here again with a roaring eight-run win in opposition to England on Wednesday on the Gadaffi Stadium. Australia, in the meantime, additionally beat England by 5 wickets however their match in opposition to South Africa was washed out as a consequence of rain.
Shahidi and Co. have a superb likelihood in opposition to a depleted Australian facet, which is with out its whole first-choice tempo assault, to achieve the semi-final in its first yr within the competitors.
“I believe it is going to be a superb recreation for cricket, and our focus shall be to maintain issues easy and don’t fear a lot about enjoying semifinal. We’ll attempt to do our fundamentals effectively,” the Afghanistan skipper mentioned.
This shall be solely the fifth ODI between the 2 groups. Australia have gained all of the earlier 4.
- Location :
Lahore, Pakistan