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'You Think We Come Only To Play With Maxwell?'- Angry Afghanistan Skipper Says

Muskaan Bhatt

Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi On Glenn Maxwell (Source: CREX, @Smithian_here/X.com)Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi On Glenn Maxwell (Source: CREX, @Smithian_here/X.com)

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The Afghanistan team has chalked out plans for the entire Australian side and is not just focussed on its bete noire Glenn Maxwell, skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi said on the eve of their must-win Champions Trophy match.

Having knocked England out of the tournament with a memorable eight-run win here on Wednesday, Afghanistan are now seeking to get the better of Australia at the same venue on Friday and book a semifinal berth.

"You think we will come only to play with Maxwell? Do you think it will be like that? We have planned for entire Australian team, and I know that he (Maxwell) played really well in the 2023 World Cup, but that's part of the history," Shahidi said at the pre-match press conference on Thursday.

The Cat-Mouse Race Between Afghanistan And Australia

Chasing 292, Australia were staring at a certain defeat after losing seven wickets with less than 100 on the board, but then, Glenn Maxwell played one of the greatest knocks in history of one-day cricket to steer his side into an unbelievable win, and days later, the Aussies won a record-extending sixth World Cup.

However, the Afghans exacted revenge for that painful defeat with victory against Australia in the T20 World Cup a year later after Maxwell again threatened to take the game away from them.

"After that, we beat them in T20 World Cup, and we think about all opposition team. We are not coming to the ground to plan on individual players. We will try our best to come with the planning, and we are not playing only Maxwell – we are playing Australia," Shahidi said.

Unstoppable Afghanistan On A Run

Wednesday's win was their second in ODIs against England after their stunning victory in the 2023 World Cup in India. The victory against England sparked wild celebrations in the Afghan capital of Kabul where fireworks were lit and streets were filled with jubilant fans.

Should Afghanistan get past Australia, it will pave the way for their second successive entry into the semifinals of an ICC event in less than a year, following their inspiring run in the T20 World Cup in the Americas in 2024.

[With PTI Inputs]