Pakistan Faces Familiar Foe Australia in Crucial Cricket World Cup Clash

Pakistan faces a daunting challenge ahead of their important match against Australia in the ICC Cricket World Cup. Several players in the team are dealing with a viral infection, and the squad is trying to regroup after a significant loss to rivals India.

Captain Babar Azam and his team will take on the five-time champions, Australia, on Friday. However, they are facing challenges as key players like fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi are struggling with form, and opener Abdullah Shafique is weakened by a fever. Both Shafique and Afridi have returned to practice and are available for selection, but there are concerns about Pakistan’s overall performance going into their fourth match of the tournament.

Pakistan had a strong start in the tournament, winning their first two matches in different styles. However, they suffered a seven-wicket defeat against India in a match marred by hostile behavior from the crowd. The Pakistan Cricket Board has filed a complaint with the International Cricket Council about the mistreatment of their players during the match.

The team is now back in southern India, where they received great support during their previous victories. Despite the setbacks, players like Mohammad Rizwan remain optimistic, emphasizing the need for the team to balance their skills with game awareness.

Pakistan’s bowling unit has faced criticism for lacking discipline, with Afridi’s struggles drawing particular attention. Former cricketer Waqar Younis advised Afridi to learn from India’s Jasprit Bumrah to improve his performance.

Looking ahead, Pakistan faces a resurgent Australia team. While Pakistan has won four out of ten encounters against Australia, the losses inflicted by Australia, especially in significant matches like the 1999 Cricket World Cup final, have been impactful. Pakistan is gearing up for a tough match as they aim to bounce back from recent challenges.

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