Australia vs Afghanistan Betting Tips – Australia Start Favourites In Must-Win Clash

• Australia vs Afghanistan Group B Preview
• Australia Form
• Australia Team News
• Afghanistan Form
• Afghanistan Team News

Afghanistan put in a sparkling performance of fight, spirit and discipline to beat England by eight runs in the Champions Trophy’s best match so far. That result knocked England out of the tournament while Afghanistan have another chance to make the semis.

If Afghanistan lose to Australia in this fixture, they will be knocked out. Australia, on the other hand, also have a lot at stake. If they win, they are guaranteed to make the semis. If they lose, they will need England to beat South Africa to stay in the Champions Trophy.

With all to play for, expect the intensity to be high and the pressure to have an influential impact as this match progresses. The previous time these two teams played at an ICC event, Afghanistan were bossing Australia in Mumbai in the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup before Glenn Maxwell played one of the best white-ball knocks in the history of the format.

Australia Form

Australia’s form has been middling. They came into this tournament on the back of a 2-0 defeat in Sri Lanka but beat England in a vital opener last Saturday. That result paved the way for the pressure to be released as rain forced a washout in the previous match, in Rawalpindi, against South Africa.

Australia have a lot to look forward to, particularly the form of their newer players. Josh Inglis and Alex Carey have been in terrific batting form, and it was their partnership that carried them closer to a daunting target of 351 against England.

From a bowling standpoint, Australia will be looking to their most experienced players like Adam Zampa in an otherwise inexperienced international line-up. That’s where their challenge may lie against a resurgent Afghanistan team that has already shown their skill and spirit on the international stage.

Australia Team News

After a day off with the previous match abandoned, Australia are likely to go into this with their best XI. There may be some changes based on conditions, but none of them are likely to be forced.

Afghanistan Form

In a match for the ages, Afghanistan pulled off another stunning upset to knock England out in a thriller on Wednesday. They were struggling at one point at 37 for 3 before Ibrahim Zadran scored a sensational 177 off just 146 balls, with 12 fours and 6 sixes, to help Afghanistan post 325 for 7.

Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi and Hashmatullah Shahidi all played handy cameos to lift Afghanistan to a challenging score. In response, England were bossing the chase with Joe Root’s 120 off 111 balls but Afghanistan came storming back in the final few overs to bowl England out for 317. That result kept Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy but they now need another win to qualify for the semis.

Afghanistan Team News

Afghanistan have two games in three days, which may be tricky. Fazalhaq Farooqi limped off with an injury in that match, and his injury status is currently unknown.