PAK vs AFG World Cup 2023 Live Cricket Score Updates:<\/b> Be it Saeed Anwar\u2019s 194 in the Independence Cup in 1997 or a memorable Test win against India in 1999, Pakistan have some incredible Chennai memories. Even in December 2012, when they played the first match of a revival bilateral series here, Pakistan were triumphant despite MS Dhoni\u2019s century. The current lot doesn\u2019t seem to have the quality that their predecessors had, but if Pakistan are to stay alive in this World Cup, Babar Azam\u2019s boys will have to turn the clock back. <\/span><\/p>\nTwo back-to-back losses against India and Australia have left Pakistan on the brink. They play two games in Chennai, starting with the one against Afghanistan on Monday followed by South Africa on Friday. And given the nature of the Chepauk pitches, where there will be some turn for the spinners, it\u2019s going to be a tough task for Pakistan to win both. <\/p>\n
\u201cYes, we know that this is the leg that will decide whether we stay in the competition or not. We will have to raise our game, be in batting or bowling,\u201d Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq said ahead of the team\u2019s practice session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday. <\/p>\n
While the Pakistan batting failed against India, it is their bowling that has left a lot to be desired. While Shaheen Afridi showed glimpses of coming back to form in the second spell against Australia in Bengaluru on Friday, the rest of the bowlers have just been below-par. <\/p>\n
Haris Rauf has leaked runs, Hasan Ali has been below average while leggie Shadab Khan lost his place in the team in the last game, to be replaced by Usama Mir. It has meant that the Pakistan batting is almost obligated to score 350-plus everyday, which is not always possible against quality opposition. <\/p>\n
But Imam insists that it is not as bad as it looks. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a team game after all and we back our bowlers. As a batting group, it\u2019s not a question of being under extra pressure but just staying positive,\u201d Imam said. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s easier said than done, especially when you\u2019re playing on the black soil pitches of Chennai. It is likely that the pitch which was used for the India-Australia game will be used on Monday as well and that would mean the spinners would come into play. <\/p>\n
Afghanistan have a battery of spinners in their line-up with Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman and Mohammed Nabi doing well till now. The Afghans have an ace up their sleeve in the chinaman bowler Noor Ahmed and it will be interesting to see whether they unleash the bowler who had a very good IPL for Gujarat Titans. <\/p>\n
Imam, though, insisted that playing on a turning pitch against Afghanistan doesn\u2019t worry them. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe played Afghanistan on spinning tracks in Hambantota in a recent series and won 3-0…Yes, there have been a few close games with them but we are not afraid,\u201d Imam said, adding that when they go to Kolkata for their next leg, they will have four wins in their bag. <\/p>\n
A tall claim, given their current form, but who better than Pakistan to pull off a surprise here and there.
Read Less<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n