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Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott said on Sunday that his team are looking forward to renewing a “passionate” rivalry with Pakistan in the ICC World Cup 2023 which has often reflected the stormy political relationship between the two neighbours.
Both sides will clash on Monday and are in desperate need of a win at the ICC World Cup 2023.
Pakistan have lost their last two games after a pair of opening wins. Afghanistan pulled off a shock victory over defending champions England but have also slumped to three defeats.
At the 2019 World Cup match in Leeds, which Pakistan won by three wickets, riots between the two sets of fans erupted outside the stadium.
Afghanistan fast bowler Fareed Malik and Pakistan batsman Asif Ali almost came to blows in a Twenty20 game at Sharjah last year.
“I think for them (Afghanistan players) it’s a rivalry that excites them,” said Trott on Sunday.
“I think it’s a rivalry that sometimes in the past has been very passionate.
“We’ve had very close games as well. Hopefully, tomorrow isn’t very exciting and we win by a lot. It’s just the nature of the rivalry, I should say.”
He added: “Both teams, I think, respect each other, but are very desperate to win.”
Trott said he wasn’t aware that Pakistan had unsuccessfully demanded the International Cricket Council switch Sunday’s game to another venue.
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