AUS vs AFG: Afghanistan playing XI vs Australia, Match 39, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 – Predicted

Afghanistan will lock horns with Australia in match No. 39 of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in Mumbai.

One team that has performed way better than expected in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 are Afghanistan. They have been superb and have won four games out of the seven they have played. Afghanistan are still alive in the semi-finals race of the tournament and need to win their two remaining games. But those games are against tougher opponents.

They will face Australia on Tuesday at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. It will be a must-win contest for both teams fighting for a place in the next round. Australia are one of the toughest opponents, and Afghanistan need to play their best game. Here we will talk about the predicted playing XI for Afghanistan against Australia.

AUS vs AFG: Afghanistan's Predicted playing XI vs Australia

1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) :

Irrespective of the opposition, Rahmanullah Gurbaz will be the biggest player for Afghanistan. He is one player who can take on any bowling attack and score runs. He has made 234 runs so far and can put Australian bowling attack under pressure. His team will want him to give them a good start, which can make the game more interesting.

2. Ibrahim Zadran :

Ibrahim Zadran is not far behind Gurbaz in terms of match impact. The right-hander has played a good role with Gurbaz and has been scoring runs in almost every game. Zadran has scored 232 runs at 33.14 and can avoid the threat of Australian bowlers.

3. Rahmat Shah :

Rahmat Shah is the most experienced batter in this line-up, and he has performed in the same way. He has scored 264 runs at an average of 44 and has played a crucial role in last three consecutive wins. He takes cautious starts but then takes an aggressive route, which makes him an important batter in this line-up.

4. Hashmatullah Shahidi (c) :

Hashmatullah Shahidi has led the team superbly and won four matches for his country. The captain has led the team from from front and has remained unbeaten in the last three chases. He has scored 282 runs at an exceptional average of 70.80, which tells the story of how brilliantly he has batted. But his biggest challenge will be against Australia, and he will look to deliver this time around as well.

5. Azmatullah Omarzai :

Azmatullah Omarzai has been the most impactful performer in this team because of his all-round ability. The seam-bowling all-rounder has scored 234 runs at an average of 58.50 and is in good form. He has also taken five wickets with the ball, and his all-round skills give a great balance to the team. He will look to carry on his form against Australia.

6. Ikram Alikhil (wk) :

Ikram Alikhil hasn't had many chances because the top-order is doing pretty well. But he scored an important half-century against England in Delhi, which helped them register their first win. He is a very busy player at the crease and takes singles and doubles to start with. But he also has a power game in his batting.

7. Mohammad Nabi :

Mohammad Nabi hasn't had many chances with the bat in this tournament, but he has played a perfect role as a spinner. Nabi has taken six wickets but bowled at a brilliant economy rate of 4.02, which is just exceptional in this high-scoring tournament. He might be tested with the bat against Australia, but he is more than experienced enough to deliver on the big stage.

8. Rashid Khan :

The star leg-spinner, Rashid Khan, will be the biggest hurdle for Australia. He keeps bowling good balls, which puts pressure on the batters, and it is hard to score runs of him. Rashid has taken 7 wickets at an economy rate of 4.61, and he can turn the game in any situation. And not to forget that he has improved his batting as well, which can be dangerous.

9. Mujeeb Ur Rahman :

Mujeeb Ur Rahman will be the key bowler because he bowls in the powerplay, which is a hard job for spinners. But with the variations he has, Mujeeb can be hard to pick sometimes. If he has a good day with the ball, Australia will be under pressure. Mujeeb has taken 7 wickets so far in this tournament.

10. Fazalhaq Farooqi :

Fazalhaq Farooqi can swing the new ball and has been a consistent bowler for Afghanistan. He will be challenged against Australian top-order. But if he can remove a few early wickets, Afghan spinners will have a good platform to put more pressure on the batters. Farooqi has taken six wickets so far in this tournament.

11. Noor Ahmad :

Noor Ahmad has been a surprise package for Afghanistan so far. He has taken five wickets in just two matches at an economy rate of 4.21. Noor can be very hard to pick because he bowls quickly, which gives batters less time to react. It will be a big challenge for him to perform against Australia, and he can be the hero for his team.