AFG vs IRE ODI 2021 Full Squad | AFG vs IRE ODI 2021 Full Schedule | venue and Live Streaming Details
Afghanistan and Ireland the arch-nemesis all set to face each other in a three-match ODI series. The ODI series will be a part of the inaugural 2020–23 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.
This is going to be a treat for cricket lovers.
Contents
History of Both Teams:
Looking at the current ICC Rankings of both teams shows that they are trying to leave an impact on the International stage. With Afghanistan at 10th and Ireland at 11th positions, both the teams have certainly a lot to prove.
The teams have faced each other in the past for 29 matches in which Afghanistan have won 13 matches and Ireland have won 13 matches whereas 1 match has no result and 2 matches are tied among them.
AFG vs IRE ODI Series 2021 Full Squad:
Given that Afghanistan has played their last ODI in November 2019 against the West Indies, their are likely to be a lot of changes keeping in mind the current form and availability of the players. There are too many possible combinations to ponder upon.
Afghanistan Squad:
Asghar Afghan(C), Rashid Khan(VC), Javed Ahmadi, Yamin Ahmadzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf,Usman Ghani, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rahmanullah Gurbaz(WK), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Sayed Shirzad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Najibullah Zadran
Full Squad Analysis:
Asghar Afghan(C) is an experienced right-handed batsman. He is one of the few Afghanistan players who have played more than 100 ODI matches and scored 2000 runs. He is one of the most dependable batsmen in the Afghanistan Middle order.
Hashmatullah Shahidi is a left handed batsman. He has played 40 ODI matches with a strike rate of 63 and average of 32. He is considered as the Anchor man of the Afghanistan side.
Javed Ahmadi is a right handed batsman. He is an opening batsman with a strike rate of 75.
Najibullah Zadran is a left handed batsman. He is a middle order hard hitting batsman operating at a high strike rate of 90.
Usman Ghani is a right handed batsman. He is a young batsman who opens for Afghanistan. His highest score is of 118 runs which is good for a 20 Year-old lad.
Azmatullah Omarzai is a right handed batsman and a Right-arm medium-fast bowler. He is another 20 YO who is an allounder.
Mohammad Nabi is a right handed batsman and off break bowler. He was the Star performer when these sides met last in T20. He scored 81(36) with the help of seven Sixes, and got the title of the player of the series.
Rahmat Shah is a right handed batsman and right-arm leg break bowler. Appart from having an exceptional record against Ireland, He was leading scorer of the 2019 World Cup for Afghanistan.
Sharafuddin Ashraf is a slow left-arm orthodox spinner. He has taken 13 wickets with an economy of 4.39.
Ramanullah Gurbaz is a wicketkeeper and right handed batsman. He will make his ODI debut against Ireland.
Gulbadin Naib is a right-arm fast medium bowler and right handed batsman. In the second ODI of Afghan cricket team in Ireland in 2019, Naib took 6 wickets. He has 51 wickets under his name in the 58 matches he played.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman is a right-arm off break bowler. He opens the Afghanistan bowling attack. In the 40 ODI matches he played, he took astonishing 63 wickets with an economy of 3.94
Naveen-ul-Haq is a right-arm medium fast bowler. He was the 5th leading wicket taker in the CPL 2020 surpassing even the likes of Rashid Khan.
Rashid Khan is a right arm leg break bowler and right handed batsman. He might be the most impactfull cricketer in the squad. He is ranked at 7 in the ICC ODI rankings for Allrounders and 11th in ICC ODI rankings for Bowlers.
Sayed Shirzad is a left arm medium pace bowler.
Yamin Ahmadzai is a right arm medium fast bowler.
#AFGXI beat Ireland XI by 22 runs in a practice match.@Hashmat_50 top-scored with 60 while @RGurbaz_21 & @iamnajibzadran played well scoring 59 & 53 respectively. In bowling, @sayedshirzad66 & @sharafashraf82 took 3 wkts each while @GbNaib & @MohammadNabi007 took 2 each as well. pic.twitter.com/zTTyk3qCOv
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) January 16, 2021
Afghanistan Team Strength:
Afghanistan is Well balanced team with a long batting lineup and some quality batsman like Shah. They have a good bowling side too with Mujeeb being able to take wickets with the new ball and Rashid’s and Gulbadin’s ability to put pressure on batsman and take wickets in the middle
Ireland Squad:
Andrew Balbirnie(C), Paul Stirling(VC), Mark Adair, Josh Little, Curtis Campher, Andy McBrine, Neil Rock(WK), Gareth Delany, Shane Getkate, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, Kevin O’Brien, Conor Olphert, Simi Singh, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker(WK), Craig Young
Full Squad Analysis:
Andrew Balbirnie(C) is a right handed batsman. He has played 70 One Day International matches and has scored 2094 runs with a strike rate of 76.48 and average of 32.72 . He hit a ton against Afghanisthan in India, in 2019.
Harry Tector is a right handed middle order batsman. He is yet to recreate his perfomance in ODI matches like he did in 2018 Under 19 World Cup, for which he was named as the rising star of the squad by ICC.
James McCollum is a Right handed batsman. He has been a consistant performer at the domestic level scoring 1087 runs in 17 matches at an average of 45.29.
Simi Singh is a right handed batsman and right-arm off break bowler. He is a lower-middle order batsman, coupled with his ability to take crucial wickets in the middle overs.
Curtis Campher is a right handed batsman and right-arm Medium bowler. He is a middle order batsman and a good wicket taking bowler for Ireland.
Gareth Delany is a right handed batsman and right-arm leg spin bowler. He is capable of impressing everyone with his allrounding skills. His contribution with both bat and ball can be game changing.
Joshua Little is a right handed batsman and left-arm medium fast bowler. He is the bowler who is most likely to dismiss top Afghanistani batsmen with his pace bowling. He has taken 10 wickets in 6 matches inlcuding the likes of Jhonny Bairstow and Eoin Morgan
Kevin O’brien is a right handed batsman and right-arm medium fast bowler. He is an experienced power hitting middle order batsman. In the 113 Innings he bowled he took 113 wickets in ODI. He has scored more than 3000 runs with an average of 30 and strike rate of 90.
Mark Adair is a right handed batsman and right-arm fast bowler. He is another Afghans have to lookout for. He can push the ball sideways mid-air while maintaining the fast pace. He has a good track record of 17 wickets in 13 matches.
Paul Stirling is a right handed batsman and right-arm off spin bowler. He is the most dangerous batsman in Ireland side and also an experienced bowler as a backup option. He has scored 4408 runs with a strike rate 87. He was player of the series between Ireland vs Afghanistan Series in 2017 in India.
Lorcan Tucker is a wicketkeeping, right handed batsman. He has very good wicketkeeping skills and is able to score quick runs while batting.
Neil Rock is a wicket-keeping left handed batsman. He is yet to debut in ODI.
Andy Mcbrine is a right-arm off spin bowler. He has played 48 ODI and has taken 48 wickets with an econmy rate of 4.54.
Barry McCarthy is a right-arm medium bowler. His bowling figures are good as he has bagged 55 wickets in 33 ODI matches.
Craig Young is a right-arm medium fast bowler. He is a bowler who can shackle the top order Afghan batsman with his new ball spell. He has taken 34 wickets in 17 ODI.
Ireland Team Strength:
Ireland have a good batting Attack with O’Brien, Tector, Tucker being the key players and if Paul Stirling surpasses the 30 run marks, he can be a trouble to Afghan Bowlers. Ireland spinners are expected to put a good show on a pitch like this. Barry McCarthy and Craig Young are to watched out for.
AFG vs IRE ODI 2021 Probable Playing XI:
Afghanistan:
Rahmadullah Gurbaz(wk), hasmatullas Shahidi, Asghar Afghan(C), Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Javed Ahmadi, Rashid Khan, Gulbadin Naib, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Yamin Ahmadzai, Naveel ul Haq,
Ireland:
Paul Stirling, Kevin O’brien, Andrew Balbirnie(C), Harry tector, Lorcan Tucker(W), Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, Simi Singh, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Craig Young
AFG vs IRE ODI 2021 Full Schedule:
The Three Match series will Start on Thursday, 21/01 at 9:30 AM local time.
Then the 2nd Match will be held on Sunday, 24/01 at 9:30 AM local time.
The series will commence with a 3rd Match on Tuesday, 26/01 at 9:30 AM local time.
AFG vs IRE ODI 2021 Venue and Live Streaming Details:
All the Three matches will be held at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. This pitch will be in favour of batsman with an Expected score between 250-260.
You can catch the live action of this series on the Sony Six and Star Sports network whereas Hotstar and Sony Liv will be streaming these matches on their platforms.
Conclusion:
Keeping in mind the performances of both the team it is a bit hard to say that who will win the series. However, Afghanistan is the favorite to win and Ireland are the underdogs. This is going to be a treat for cricket lovers.
