Squads –
AFG –
Asghar Afghan (c), Rahmat Shah, Nawin-Ul-Haq, Hashmat Shahidi, Yamin Ahmadzai, Osman Ghani, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sayed Ahmad Shirzad, Najib Zadran, Jawed Ahmadi, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbuddin Naib, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sharafuddin Ashraf
IRE –
Paul Stirling, Gareth Delany, Andrew Balbirnie(c), Harry Tector, Kevin O Brien, Lorcan Tucker(w), Curtis Campher, Simi Singh, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Craig Young, Mark Adair, Joshua Little, Neil Rock, James McCollum
Team News –
AFG –
– Afghanistan will finally play some international cricket after a span of 13 months. All three Nabi, Rashid and Mujeeb are back for Afghanistan and will be lead by Asghan Afghan.
– Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Usman Ghani will open for Afghanistan. Gurbaz the hard hitting opener will make his ODI debut this game. Ghani was in terrific for in Shpageeza t20 recently.
– Rahmat Shah will bat 1 down. Rahmat is team’s most consistent and reliable batsman with an ODI Average of 36.
– Hasmatullah Shahidi and Asghar Afghan will handle the middle order. Shahidi generally plays slow but looks in completely different mood in the Shpageeza t20 where he was smashing the bowlers for fun.
– Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi will bat next. Both are extremely attacking batsman and have played a lot of franchise Cricket. Nabi is coming after a match winning 80 run knock in BBL.
– Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Rahman and Mohammad Nabi will lead the spin attack. All 3 are world’s best bowlers.
– Naveen-ul-haq and Gulbadin Naib will be responsible for the pace bowling. Naveen-ul-haq will bowl in death overs.
IRE –
– Ireland drew the ODI series 1-1 against UAE and will be more competitive as compared to Afghanistan due to more game practice.
– For Ireland Paul Stirling and Kevin O Brian will be opening. Stirling is teams most experienced guy who scored century against UAE 2 games ago. O’brien is not someone to introduce and will be crusial with both bat and bowl.
– Andrew Balbirnie will bat 1 down. Balbirnie is an important part of the Irish team and is very consistent in the white ball format.
– Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker will bat at 2 and 3 down respectively. Tector has emerged as an attacking middle order Batsman for Ireland and had also bowled in domestic season recently.
– Mark Adair and Curtis Campher will bat next. Both are really good hitters of the ball and will also be important with the bowl.
– Simi Singh and McBrine will handle the spin section with Paul Stirling to assist.
– Barry McCarthy , Mark Adair and Curtis Campher will be the team’s pace attack.
Probable XI –
AFG
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Usman Ghani, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan (c), Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Naveen ul Haq, Mujeeb ur Rahman
IRE –
Paul Stirling, Kevin O’brien, Andrew Balbirnie, Harry Tector, Lorkan Tucker(wk), Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Simi Singh, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy.
Pitch Report –
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
This pitch is a batting paradise, but it gets a little slow as the match progresses. The average 1st innings score at this ground is 249 runs
Team Blueprint –
WK –
R Gurbaz ( Open + wk, very attacking with SR of 140 in t20s, Must have)
BAT –
Paul Stirling ( Open, very attacking + part time spin, 232 runs in t20 blast 2020, 131* against UAE last 2nd game, Must have )
Rahmat Shah ( 1 down, very consistent but poor recent form, 2300 ODI runs at an average of 36, good choice to have)
Andrew Balbirnie ( 1 down, very experienced, 2097 runs in 72 ODIs averaging just over 30, 53 last 2nd game, Must have )
Asghar Afghan ( 3 down, team’s reliable batsman, never leave him in 2nd innings chase, 2400 ODI runs )
N Zadran( Middle order, LHB, very attacking, 1586 runs in ODI, SR of 140 in t20s however quite low around 90 in ODIs )
H Shahidi( 2 down, very reliable batsman from Afghanistan, 276 runs in 10 games against Ireland)
Usman Ghani( Open, very attacking batsman, 441 ODI runs, Just 10 runs in 3 games against Ireland)
Kevin O’brien( Open + Medium pace, not bowling much, 602 runs with an average of 31 in 23 innings against Afghanistan, Must have )
H Tector( 2 down, very attacking batsman, 48 runs + 1w in inter provisional t20 competition, 33 last game )
ALL –
Mohammad Nabi( 3 down + Off spin, very attacking batsman, 2796 runs + 130 Wickets for Afghanistan, Must have )
Curtis Campher ( Middle order + medium pacer, can swing the ball, 127 runs + 5 Wickets against England last series, 80 runs + 2 Wickets in UAE Series, Must have )
Mark Adair ( Right Arm fast, can also hit the ball big, 17 Wickets with bowling Average of just 6 )
Gulbadin Naib ( Medium pacer + good batsman, 1041 runs + 59 ODI Wickets on his name, Must try)
G Delany ( Middle order + part time leg spin, very attacking, inexperienced in ODIs )
Simi Singh ( Off spin, 23 ODI Wickets with economy just under 5 50 + 5 Wickets last game, Must have)
BOWL –
Rashid Khan ( Leg spinner, world’s best spinner, 48 massive Wickets in 7 games against Ireland, Must have)
Mujeeb Rahman ( Off mystery spin, 5-for in BBL recently, 16 Wickets in 10 games against Ireland)
Barry McCarthy ( Medium pacer, experienced, 57 ODI Wickets, 2 Wickets last 2nd game )
Naveen ul haq ( Medium fast, known for his variations, will bowl in death )
Craig Young( Fast Medium, got some good pace and swing, impressive stats with 34 Wickets in 17 games )
A McBrine( Off spin + decent batting, 7 Wickets in 36 overs against UAE, Must )
Joshua Little ( Left arm fast, young bowler, 10 Wickets in his short odi carrer of 5 games )
C/VC –
AFG –
Rashid Khan
Mohammad Nabi
Mujeeb Rahman
IRE –
Paul Stirling
Andrew Balbirnie
Curtis Campher