PAK vs AFG: How can Afghanistan stop the Pakistan winning wagon?

Afghanistan will be facing Pakistan in the Super Four stage of Asia Cup 2022(PC: Twitter)

Afghanistan will be facing Pakistan in the fourth match of the super four of Asia Cup 2022. This match is going to be the battle for existence for Afghanistan as a loss here would imply their elimination from the tournament. 

Pakistan have peaked at the right time and are looking like a solid unit. It will be a hard task for the Afghans to punch above their weight in the match and snatch a victory from the ‘Men in Green’. 

A win in this match is as important for  Afghanistan as it is for India to stay in the tournament. So, how can Mohammad Nabi’s men plot against their opposition for today? 

Using the variety in spin correctly

Afghanistan spinners will be very important in today's match (PC: Twitter)

 Much like the match against India, Pakistan will look to make full use of their left hand and right hand combination. Given the starts that they are getting with Mohammad Rizwan playing some steady knocks at the top the plan from Pakistan is working wonders. 

The Afghan team has three spinners in their repertoire, let us look at the records of the bowlers against left-hand batters. 

Record of Afghanistan spinners versus left-hand batters

As we see all the three spinners have a pretty decent record against left hand batters. The Afghan team must look to use the three spinners in rotation against the Pakistan middle order which has three left hand batters in the middle order in the form of- Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah and Mohammad Nawaz . 

Finding a way to stop Mohammad Rizwan

Mohmmad Rizwan will be holding the key for Pakistan batting(PC: Twitter)

Mohammad Rizwan has been in prime form in this Asia Cup. He has scored 192 runs from three matches in the tournament and has been slowly responsible for giving Pakistan good starts in the matches. 

Fazalhaq Farooqi will be the main weapon for Afghanistan(PC: Twitter)

It will be important from Afghanistan's point of view to pick up Rizwan early and not allow him to settle down. In the first match against India, it was Hardik Pandya who dismissed Rizwan off a short ball directed at his body. In the super four match the Indians did not ball the effort delivery to that extent.

In today’s match the Afghan pacers specially Fazalhaq Farooqi should look to bowl some well directed bouncers at Rizwan at the early stage. The bowler will have to make it a point of bowling the bouncers well directed to Rizwan’s body. The best ploy would be to use the bouncer as a surprise delivery amidst some full or good length deliveries. 

Also Read: Mohammad Rizwan dethrones Babar Azam to become the top ranked T20I batter