Perth, Australia: Allrounder Shane Watson was cut from Australia's starting lineup Wednesday, when Afghanistan won the toss and sent the World Cup co-hosts in to bat in a Pool A match at the WACA ground.
Australia made two changes to the 11 that lost to co-host New Zealand by one wicket in Auckland last Saturday. Fast bowler Pat Cummins, who has a slight side strain, made way for Josh Hazelwood, and allrounder James Faulkner returned from injury to replace Watson.
Afghanistan, which beat fellow Associate team Scotland by one wicket in Dunedin in its last match, replaced Gulbadin Naib with fellow opener Usman Ghani in the only change to its lineup.
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Lineups:
Australia: Aaron Finch, David Warner, Michael Clarke (captain), Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Brad Haddin, James Faulkner, Josh Hazelwood.
Afghanistan: Mohammad Nabi (captain), Afsar Zazai, Asghar Stanikzai, Dawlat Zadran, Hamid Hassan, Javed Ahmadi, Najib Zadran, Nawroz Mangal, Samiullah Shenwari, Shahpur Zadran, Usman Ghani.
Umpires: Kumar Dgharmasena, Sri Lanka, and Michael Gough, England.
Third umpire: Billy Bowden, New Zealand. Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle, Sri Lanka.
