Summary Afghanistan will meet Australia in the World Cup Pool A match today (Wednesday).
SYDNEY (AFP) - Afghanistan are set for their biggest challenge of the World Cup so far when they play Australia in Perth today (Wednesday).
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.
