Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott said on Sunday his team was looking forward to rekindling a “heated” rivalry with Pakistan that often reflects the stormy political relations between the two neighbors.
Both teams desperately need a World Cup victory.
Pakistan have lost their last two matches after two opening victories. Afghanistan scored a shock victory over defending champions England but also slumped to three defeats.
The ongoing cross-border frictions between the two nations add spice to Monday’s crucial clash.
Pakistan has seen a sharp increase in militant attacks since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Militant attacks have focused on areas bordering Afghanistan, and Islamabad says some are planned on Afghan soil – a charge Kabul denies.
Islamabad also recently announced a plan to deport hundreds of thousands of Afghan migrants living in Pakistan.
There were also intense cricket clashes.
During the 2019 World Cup match in Leeds, which Pakistan won by three wickets, riots between the two sets of fans broke out outside the stadium.
Afghan fast bowler Fareed Malik and Pakistani batsman Asif Ali almost came to blows in a Twenty20 match in Sharjah last year.
“I think for them (the Afghan players), it’s a rivalry that they’re passionate about,” Trott said on Sunday.
“I think it’s a rivalry that has been very heated at times in the past.
“We also had some very close games. I hope tomorrow won’t be too exciting and we win by a lot. That’s just the nature of the rivalry, I should say.”
He added: “I think both teams respect each other, but are desperate to win.”
Trott said he was not aware that Pakistan had unsuccessfully requested the International Cricket Council to move Sunday’s match to another venue.
Reports claimed that Pakistan wanted to reduce the threat posed by the world-class parallel attack launched by Afghanistan.
“I didn’t know they wanted (to change venue) but I think Pakistan have good spinners themselves and with the spinners there are only two or three who play a match,” Trott said.
The Afghan trio of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi will pose a threat to Pakistan as they did against England, sharing eight wickets in a surprise 69-run win.
This match, however, took place in New Delhi.
“It’s everyone’s job, not just spinners, to win matches. There are batsmen who have to put runs on the board or batsmen who have to chase a total,” added the former England batsman Trott.
“Chennai is normally a good wicket. So as far as the mindset is concerned, it’s important, like I said, the mindset we have there is that it’s a team game. It’s not just a game of spinners.”
Afghanistan have lost all seven of their ODIs against Pakistan but can take some satisfaction in knowing they have won three of the teams’ last four Twenty20 meetings.
“We’re always looking to put the opposition under pressure straight away, so we’ll look to do that tomorrow obviously, and I don’t think there’s any reflections from previous matches,” Trott said.
