AFG vs SL, World Cup 2023: Shahidi hopes to carry confidence of win over Pakistan into clash against Sri Lanka

Shahidi admitted that the fact that Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have played each other so often over the last 12 months across formats will make it a clash of the equals.

Published : Oct 29, 2023 20:07 IST , PUNE - 2 MINS READ

FILE PHOTO: Afghanistan Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi.
FILE PHOTO: Afghanistan Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi. | Photo Credit: B JOTHI RAMALINGAM/THE HINDU
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FILE PHOTO: Afghanistan Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi. | Photo Credit: B JOTHI RAMALINGAM/THE HINDU

It may have defeated arch-rival Pakistan for the first time in an ODI last week. It may have already performed at its best in a World Cup edition. Still, Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi reiterated the team is eyeing the big prize but not thinking too far ahead.

“Our aim and goal is to achieve and to go to the next round. That’s what we are thinking about. But right now, we are not thinking how to go to the semifinal,” Shahidi said here on Sunday, ahead of its key clash against Sri Lanka.

“We think match by match and our mindset is busy in tomorrow’s Sri Lankan game right now. Let’s see what happens tomorrow. Then we will think about other games and moving forward to the semifinal.”

READ | Buoyant Sri Lanka faces Afghanistan test in fight for fifth in points table

While Shahidi did not reveal his bowling combination, he admitted that the fact that Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have played each other so often over the last 12 months across formats will make it a clash of the equals.

“It will be a tough challenge for both the teams. First of all, we played a lot of cricket together from last one year and we know each other very well. And we both have won our last games coming into the game,” he said.

“We have more confidence from that game, so we will take that with us to the ground and we will try to go with a positive intent to the ground and play good cricket.”

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