We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Pitch Report for Ireland vs Afghanistan 1st T20I
Four out of the last five T20Is have been won by the teams defending at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast. In the last two games, the team batting first scored in excess of 170 at an average of 5 wickets per innings.
Time: August 9, 8.00 PM IST
Probable Playing XIs for Ireland & Afghanistan
Probable XI for Ireland: Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie (c), Gareth Delany, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, Lorcan Tucker (wk), George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy/Andy McBrine, Craig Young, Joshua Little
Probable XI for Afghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (c), Karim Janat/ Farid Ahmad Malik, Naveen ul Haq, Noor Ahmad, Rashid Khan, Fazal Haq Farooqi
Power Picks for the Match
Rashid Khan was regularly picking wickets in the recently concluded English T20 League and will remain the biggest threat with the ball for Ireland. In the format, he has bagged 32 wickets, including the best figures of 5 for 3 against them in only 12 matches.
For 10 straight T20Is, Joshua Little has picked at least a wicket. He has taken 19 wickets, including the best figures of 4 for 35 against New Zealand. He thrives on bowling at the death.
The aggressive Najibullah Zadran displayed great form in the recently concluded Afghanistan T20 League by accumulating 228 runs at 57 in his last 5 innings. His recent scores in the format at the international level read 73, 27, 44*, 57, and 2.
Hazratullah Zazai loves playing against Ireland and has an envious record against them. In only 7 T20Is, he has amassed 411 runs, including the highest score of 162* which came back in 2019 at Dehradun. Watch out, Ireland!
Smart Fantasy Picks for the Match
Although Paul Stirling has been getting brisk starts, he hasn’t been converting those into anything substantial. He has managed to add only 120 runs in his last 5 T20Is. Furthermore, it has been 15 games since he has bowled in the format.
Before being dismissed for a duck in the second game against South Africa, Lorcan Tucker had smashed 78 off 38 balls, including 7 fours and 5 sixes. He is also likely to generate fantasy points through his glove work.
Given his dual ability, Mohammad Nabi will continue to remain a favourite in fantasy leagues. In 18 T20Is against Ireland, he has added 399 runs and taken 15 wickets.
Fazal Haq Farooqi has the ability to strike early by moving the new ball. He might be young to international cricket, but he has already picked 9 wickets in 6 T20Is.
Before traveling to Ireland, Hashmatullah Shahidi had scores of 62 and 90 in the Afghanistan T20 League. While he is yet to spend any considerable time at the crease in T20Is, his ability to anchor the innings bodes well for his team.
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Form Concerns
Andrew Balbirnie’s lean run with the bat will be a matter of concern for Ireland. His recent scores in the format read 12, 10, 10, 14, and 0.
Like his skipper, Gareth Delany too has been experiencing a rough patch. Only 18 runs have come off his bat in the last 8 T20Is. However, he surprised fantasy players by picking 4 wickets in the last 2 T20Is against South Africa.
Ireland vs Afghanistan 1st T20I Match Preview
Ireland come into this series after being drubbed by New Zealand and South Africa. Although they put up a brave fight at times, they couldn’t click as a collective unit to cross the line. On the other hand, Afghanistan haven’t played as a team for over two months. They last beat Zimbabwe in the T20Is. On the head-to-head front, Afghanistan lead Ireland 14-3.