Afghanistan face Australia test as Pakistan aim to press on

Afghanistan are set for their biggest challenge of the World Cup so far when they play Australia in Perth on Wednesday, while Pakistan go in search of their second win of the tournament against UAE.
The pace and bounce of the WACA pitch in Perth has proved the undoing of many a visiting batsman but Afghanistan will go into the match on the back of a win in their previous Pool A clash, a thrilling one-wicket success over fellow non-Test side Scotland.
But whichever combination of fast bowlers Australia field will represent a major step-up in class for Afghanistan's batsmen, although fast bowlers such as Hamid Hassan and Shapoor Zadran should enjoy the conditions.
Defiant Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi insisted his side were not intimidated by the daunting task ahead of them.
"We are not scared of them, but we respect them because they have good attacking bowlers and good quality batsmen and fielders as well," Nabi said Tuesday.
Australia captain Michael Clarke said it was vital for the development of cricket that teams such as Afghanistan took part in the World Cup.
"I think this is great for the game. I've always been a believer in the more countries that we can get involved in the game of cricket, the better," Clarke said.
Australia go into the game on the back of a one-wicket loss to fellow event co-hosts New Zealand in Auckland last weekend.
Afterwards, Clarke's comments that Australia had failed to prepare for the swinging ball were interpreted as a thinly-veiled criticism of coach Darren Lehmann.
But Clarke insisted all was well in the Australia camp, telling reporters on Tuesday: "You guys will get no headlines out of me."
Paceman Pat Cummins won't play after injuring his left side during the loss to New Zealand but all-rounder James Faulkner is ready to return after a side strain.
Josh Hazlewood will likely replace Cummins, leaving either Shane Watson or Mitch Marsh to be dropped to accommodate Faulkner.
Australia are fourth in Pool A after an opening win over England was followed by a no-result washout against Bangladesh in Brisbane and then last weekend's loss to New Zealand.
"It's up to us to turn things around and come out and perform really good on Wednesday," said Clarke.
In Pool B, Pakistan will look to back-up their first win of the tournament, a scrappy 20-run success against Zimbabwe, with a victory over the UAE in Napier.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq wants to see a much-improved batting display following 76 and 150-run defeats by India and the West Indies in their opening two pool matches.
Even the win over Zimbabwe saw Pakistan held to a modest total of 235 for seven.
"From now on we have to play every game as if it is a knockout match," said Misbah.
"I think the top order is always the key, and if we really want to go further in this World Cup, we have to improve that."
The UAE have yet to win a match at this tournament, with Pakistan-born batsman Shaiman Anwar the shining light with scores of 67, 106 and 35 in defeats by Zimbabwe, Ireland and India respectively.
Despite being an amateur side, the UAE were competitive during a narrow two-wicket loss to Ireland and four-wicket defeat by Zimbabwe.
But they came unstuck last time out with a nine-wicket thrashing by world champions India.
"We had two good games to start with," said UAE captain Mohammad Tauqir. "We would like to erase this game (against India) as soon as possible.
"This whole tournament is a learning experience for us."
Source: AFP