Afghanistan vs Ireland Playerzpot Prediction 1st T20I Preview, Team News, Playing 11

Ireland and Afghanistan are all set to clash against each other on Indian turf for the first T20I at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun. Afghanistan will be meeting Ireland for three T20Is, five ODIs and one Test match in their adopted home where Indian tracks offer assistance to them by adding strength to Afghanistan’s spin. Ireland has won only three of their last 15 T20I matches while Afghanistan is currently on a 7-match winning streak in the shortest format of the game.

Afghanistan looks a formidable team on paper as they have won each of the 16 T20I matches they have played in Asia with their winning streak beginning against Windies during the WT20I 2016. Ireland, on the other hand, is arriving in India after registering a last-ball win over the Netherlands in the T20 quadrangular series in Oman.

WHERE: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Dehradun

WHEN: 21 FEBRUARY, 06:30 PM

Skipper Paul Stirling all set to take on Afghanistan with a positive mindset.

“We have played against Afghanistan a lot over the last few years. We know that they are a good side and we can go out with a positive mindset. I think Afghanistan has reached places in the T20I stuff and we are well aware of what they bring,” he said.

We are ready to take on Ireland: Asghar Afghan

“We have been training in India for the last one month and breaking the sweat in the nets. We are well prepared for the upcoming series against Ireland,” Afghan said.

Some view from up top at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium. Excited to get into the @ACBofficials series tomorrow starting with the t20s. #dehradun #BackingGreen #☘️ pic.twitter.com/fYfqBlI9Tt

— George Dockrell (@georgedockrell) February 20, 2019

Form Guide

Afghanistan

W W W W W

Ireland

W L L L L

Team News

Ireland will be led by Paul Stirling in the absence of Gary Wilson who will miss the series due to his vision related ailment.
Mohammad Shahzad has not been included in the squad for the T20I thus, S Shafiq will don the gloves for the side.

Afghanistan Squad

Asghar Afghan(c), Usman Ghani, Najeeb Tarakai, Karim Janat, Hazratullah Zazai, Samiullah Shenwari, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran,Shafiqullah Shafiq, Rashid Khan, Farid Malik, Sayed Shirzad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Zahir Khan, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Ziaur Rahman

Afghan players training session at Dehradun Arena (Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium); Afghanistan and @Irelandcricket will face each other in the first match of the Islamic Bank of Afghanistan T20I Cup tomorrow at 5.30pm AFT.#AFGvIRE #IREvAFG pic.twitter.com/KB0Zntdv5S

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) February 20, 2019

Ireland Squad

Paul Stirling(c), Stuart Poynter, Andrew Balbirnie, Peter Chase, George Dockrell, Shane Getkate, Joshua Little, Andy McBrine, Kevin O Brien, Boyd Rankin, James Shannon, Simi Singh, Harry Tector, Stuart Thompson, Lorcan Tucker

Afghanistan Playing 11

Asghar Afghan(c), Karim Janat, Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Nabi, Shafiqullah Shafiq(w), Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shenwari, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman,Sharafuddin Ashraf, Farid Malik

Ireland Playing 11

Paul Stirling(c), Andrew Balbirnie, Shane Getkate, Stuart Thompson, Simi Singh, Kevin O Brien, Stuart Poynter(w), George Dockrell, Joshua Little, Boyd Rankin, Peter Chase

Playerzpot Team

Fantasy Picks from Afghanistan

Rashid Khan has taken 18 wickets against Ireland which is the most for him against any team.
Rashid Khan, Mohammed Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahmann took 14 wickets in their last series against Bangladesh. The trio is will be belligerent for Afghanistan.

Fantasy Picks from Ireland

Kevin O’ Brien needs 95 more runs to become 4th Ireland player to score 1000 runs in the shortest format with his 111 runs coming in his previous T20I innings.
Stuart Thompson returned figures of 4/18 against the Netherlands. He is a good fantasy pick.