In a highly anticipated matchup, the 22nd match of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 is set to unfold at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai today, featuring cricketing giants Pakistan and Afghanistan. Under the captaincy of Babar Azam, the Pakistan team finds itself grappling with a recent slump in form, suffering consecutive defeats in their previous two matches. Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s journey in the tournament has been a mixed bag, overcoming England in Delhi but falling short against New Zealand.
Both teams are now preparing to bounce back from their recent losses with a resounding victory in this crucial encounter. In an exclusive interview on the Dafa News Cricket Show, former Zimbabwean cricketer Christopher Mpofu shared intriguing statistics about the historic clashes between these two teams. Pakistan and Afghanistan have squared off seven times in ODIs, with Pakistan securing victories in all of these encounters. Afghanistan is still in search of its maiden ODI triumph against Pakistan. Notably, the two sides have met once in the history of the ODI World Cup, with Pakistan emerging victorious during the 2019 edition.
This upcoming clash in India will mark the first ODI encounter between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Indian soil. The teams have a history of seven T20 International matches, with Pakistan winning four times and Afghanistan emerging victorious in three encounters. Additionally, they have crossed paths once in the T20 World Cup, where Pakistan triumphed over Afghanistan.
The MA Chidambaram Stadium’s pitch in Chennai is renowned for its slow and spin-friendly nature, often posing challenges for batsmen in accumulating runs. Spinners typically thrive in these conditions, while fast bowlers can also exploit the surface. The stadium has witnessed 37 ODI matches to date, with an even split between teams batting first and second, each securing 18 wins. The average first-innings score stands at 226, while the second-innings average is 204, underscoring the difficulty of high-scoring matches on this challenging pitch. Cricket enthusiasts worldwide are eagerly awaiting the showdown between Pakistan and Afghanistan as these teams look to steer their campaigns in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 back on track.
