Afghanistan will compete against Australia on February 28 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, aiming to secure a semi-final place in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Rain may affect the match, but chances diminish throughout the day. Afghanistan seeks its first ODI victory against Australia, having lost all prior encounters. The match will be televised on Star Sports and streamed on JioHotstar.
On February 28, Afghanistan will face Australia in the 2025 Champions Trophy at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, aiming for a spot in the semi-finals. After securing a stunning victory over England, Afghanistan looks to defeat Australia, which would solidify their chances of advancing.
If Afghanistan wins, they will reach a total of four points, allowing only South Africa a chance to match that total, thereby guaranteeing Afghanistan’s progression into the semi-finals.
Weather conditions may pose a challenge, as AccuWeather indicates a 71% probability of rainfall in Lahore on match day. However, precipitation chances drop to around 20% by 2 PM, the scheduled match start. The likelihood of rain further decreases throughout the day, reaching zero by 7 PM, suggesting that while the match is likely to proceed, some overs may be impacted.
Historically, Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore has seen high-scoring games, with all four innings in the previous two Champions Trophy matches exceeding 300 runs. The pitch is characterized as flat, indicating a potential run-fest for this encounter.
In their ODI history, Afghanistan has not registered a win against Australia, having lost all four of their previous matches.
Predicted playing XIs for Afghanistan include: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Noor Ahmad. Australia’s lineup features: Travis Head, Matthew Short, Steve Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis (wk), Nathan Ellis, Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa, and Ben Dwarshuis.
The live broadcast of the Afghanistan vs Australia match will be available on Star Sports Network and Sports18 Network. Additionally, it will be online via the JioHotstar app and website.
Afghanistan’s match against Australia on February 28 is critical for their semi-final ambitions in the 2025 Champions Trophy. With challenging weather conditions predicted and a historically difficult matchup ahead, it becomes essential for Afghanistan to capitalize on their recent form against England. The anticipated high-scoring nature of the pitch at Gaddafi Stadium could play a significant role in determining the match outcome, while fans can follow the action through various broadcasting channels.
Original Source: www.firstpost.com
