New Delhi: Afghanistan will be looking to open their account in the T20 World Cup when they take on last edition’s runners-up, South Africa, in a Group D clash on Wednesday at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
Any team that takes Afghanistan lightly will be quickly put in their place. Not only did they beat New Zealand at the last T20 World Cup, as has been mentioned, but their victory over Australia set up their epic run to the semi-final stage.
In their campaign opener against New Zealand, they suffered a five-wicket loss at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai but will look to turn around their fortune in Ahmedabad.
Afghanistan squad: Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Sediqullah Atal, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Naveen Ul Haq, Mohammad Ishaq Rahimi, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran. Reserves: AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi
South Africa, meanwhile, began their campaign with a 56-run win over Canada. The Proteas are arguably the best cricketing nation yet to win a Men’s T20 World Cup, alongside – coincidentally – Group D rivals New Zealand.
South Africa squad: Aiden Markram (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs
Head-to-head record between South Africa and Afghanistan
Total matches played – 3
SA won: 3
Afghanistan won: 0
Both teams’ performance in their last 5 matches
South Africa: L, W, W, L, W
Afghanistan: W, W, W, L, L
Australia vs Ireland
2021 champions Australia will begin their campaign against Ireland, who will be eye to get their first win of this edition after losing the campaign opener against Sri Lanka.
Australia’s form leading in has been patchy, but in theory, they have a draw that could offer a pivotal build-up of rhythm to start working their way into the tournament.
Mitchell Marsh leads the team like he did two years ago when the Aussies’ run ended in the Super Eight stage. Marsh was central to Australia’s only title-winning run in 2021, when he smashed an unbeaten 77* in the final against New Zealand.
Australia squad: Mitch Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
Ireland have been a mainstay at the T20 World Cup for most of its existence, dating right back to the tournament’s second edition. A surprise trip to the Super Eight stage isn’t totally beyond them; back in 2022 they beat eventual champions England after advancing to the Super 12 stage in what was a slightly different format to the current one.
Ireland squad: Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young
Head-to-head record between Australia and Ireland
Total matches played: 2
Aus won: 2
Ireland won: 0
Both teams performance in their last 5 matches
Australia: L, NR, L, L, L
Ireland: W, L, W, W, L
England vs West Indies
After winning their respective campaign openers, England and West Indies will lock horns in a Group C game on Wednesday at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
England survived a major Nepal scare in a narrow four-run win in their opening match of the tournament.
England and the West Indies are two of three sides to have won this tournament twice, while the Windies moved past defeated Scotland comfortably by 35 runs.
England squad: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood
West Indies squad: Shai Hope (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd
Head-to-head record between England and West Indies
Total matches played: 38
England won: 19
West Indies won: 18
No result: 1
Performance of both teams in their last 5 matches
England: NR, W, W, W, W
West Indies: W, L, L, W, W
(IANS)
