T20 World Cup 2022: Afghanistan VS Ireland - Match predictions and tips

    Afghanistan will contend with Ireland in the 25th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, scheduled at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday

    Afghanistan VS Ireland Afghanistan VS Ireland

    Ireland barely held their ground in their opening match defeat against Zimbabwe but pulled through to the Super 12 after resounding wins against West Indies and Scotland. They subsequently secured a stunning victory over England in one of their last two matches. 

    Afghanistan, meanwhile, is still reeling from their opening loss against England and the following match against New Zealand that was sabotaged by the rain.

    The batting contingent of Afghanistan was not consistent, but the bowlers put immense pressure on the English batters even though they had to chase a low score. 

    Ireland is ranked fourth on the Super 12 points table, while Afghanistan is stagnating at the bottom-last, meaning it will be a crucial game for the latter. 

    Ireland Players to watch

    Paul Stirling

    The batter has the potential to trump bowlers in the powerplay, and if he is in good form, he could easily fetch extra points for Ireland. 

    Andrew Balbirnie 

    Andrew Balbirnie has already forged a reputation as one of the biggest threats in the tournament. The Irish opener is unstoppable at the top of the order and is a good leader from the front.

    Afghanistan Players to watch

    Ibrahim Zadran

    The batter will serve as a crucial player on the batting front. Although he is not comparable to Rahmanullah Gurbaz or Hazratullah Zazai, who are big hitters, his technique and temperament will be advantageous for the team. 

    Match Prediction

    Although luck has favoured Ireland in the tournament, Afghanistan has a better squad. Although they are winless, the next match could break their dry spell. 

    Top Picks

    Ibrahim Zadran

    FazalHaq Farooqi

    Joshua Little 

    Andrew Balbirnie

    Pitch Report

    Players can expect a moderate wicket that caters to bat and ball at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Bouncers might ease into the pitch in the early stages, and spinners might struggle to find momentum. The team batting second has an overall win percentage of 60. 

    Team Squad

    Ireland: 1. Paul Stirling 2. Andrew Balbirnie (c) 3. Lorcan Tucker (wk) 4. Harry Tector 5. Curtis Campher 6. George Dockrell 7. Gareth Delany 8. Mark Adair 9. Fionn Hand 10. Barry McCarthy 11. Joshua Little.

    Afghanistan: 1. Hazratullah Zazai 2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) 3. Ibrahim Zadran 4. Usman Ghani 5. Najibullah Zadran 6. Mohammad Nabi (c) 7. Azmatullah Omarzai 8. Rashid Khan 9. Mujeeb Ur Rahman 10. Fareed Ahmad Malik/Naveen-ul-Haq 11. Fazalhaq Farooqi.

     

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