The series between the hosts Afghanistan taking on Ireland is set to open with the T2oIs. Afghanistan have a strong T20I record against Ireland and they have beaten them in each of their last seven completed series. Afghanistan have won last seven T20I matches. At this venue Afghanistan has a great record they have played three T20I matches and won all of them. With the likes of Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Irish batsmen are likely to struggle against them in these spin-friendly conditions.
Ireland has lost five of their last seven T20I matches. Last time when Ireland hosted Afghanistan for T20I series, Irish couldn't win a single match. To tackle Afghan spinners Ireland will rely heavily on Paul Stirling, Kevin O'Brien and Andrew Balbirnie. In bowling, Ireland have reliable options like Boyd Rankin, Peter Chase and George Dockrell. The onus of picking wickets in the power play will be on Rankin.
Player Recommendations:
Wicket-keeper: Shafiqullah Shafiq (8.5 credits)
In absence of Mohammad Shahzad, Shafiq will have the job behind the stumps though he has not enough opportunities in the presence of Shahzad, now it's the right time for 29 year-old to showcase his talent against Ireland to prove his presence in the team. He has played 41 T20s so far and managed to score 496 runs. In spin-friendly track he will be the best pick from the wicket-keeper list.
Batsman: Hazratullah Zazai (9 credits)
The hard-hitting opening batsman Zazai is the dangerous batsman to bowl in
The series between the hosts Afghanistan taking on Ireland is set to open with the T2oIs. Afghanistan have a strong T20I record against Ireland and they have beaten them in each of their last seven completed series. Afghanistan have won last seven T20I matches. At this venue Afghanistan has a great record they have played three T20I matches and won all of them. With the likes of Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Irish batsmen are likely to struggle against them in these spin-friendly conditions.
Ireland has lost five of their last seven T20I matches. Last time when Ireland hosted Afghanistan for T20I series, Irish couldn't win a single match. To tackle Afghan spinners Ireland will rely heavily on Paul Stirling, Kevin O'Brien and Andrew Balbirnie. In bowling, Ireland have reliable options like Boyd Rankin, Peter Chase and George Dockrell. The onus of picking wickets in the power play will be on Rankin.
Player Recommendations:
Wicket-keeper: Shafiqullah Shafiq (8.5 credits)
In absence of Mohammad Shahzad, Shafiq will have the job behind the stumps though he has not enough opportunities in the presence of Shahzad, now it's the right time for 29 year-old to showcase his talent against Ireland to prove his presence in the team. He has played 41 T20s so far and managed to score 496 runs. In spin-friendly track he will be the best pick from the wicket-keeper list.
Batsman: Hazratullah Zazai (9 credits)
The hard-hitting opening batsman Zazai is the dangerous batsman to bowl in the powerplay. The 20 year-old when he last played against Ireland he fired 54-balls 84 runs were he hit six four's and seven maximum's. The same firing inning can be expected again in this opening game. Zazai so far has played only three T20Is, he smashed for 174 runs at an average of 58 at the strike-rate of 156.75. He is definitely a player to watch out for.
All-rounder: Mohammad Nabi (9.5 credits)
The Afghan all-rounder had been in excellent form with both bat as well as ball in the recently concluded Big Bash League for Melbourne Renegades and he would like to replicate his form for his nation here as well. At this venue, Nabi has good bowling record where he played three matches at this venue and picked four wickets with an economy of just 5. He is the only player whose economy is under six next to Rashid Khan at this venue. He will be the key man in the middle-order for Afghan if top-order fails.
Bowler: Rashid Khan (10 credits)
The world's best T20I bowler Rashid Khan along with Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi for a threatening bowling attack and the trio is likely to trouble the Irish batsmen in this spin-friendly conditions. Khan has excellent record on this venue, he played just three matches, while ended up picking eight wickets at an economy of 4.45. So, we can a few bunch of wickets he can added in his bag in this match.
Captain: Rashid Khan
Vice-captain: Mohammad Nabi
