CWC 2019: AFG vs WI Preview – Bottom-placed outfits aim for a victorious end

In the battle between the two bottom-placed teams on the table, Afghanistan will face off against West Indies at Headingley in Leeds. While Afghanistan have not won a single game and languish at the bottom of the table, West Indies have only managed to win a single game and will aim to register their second victory of the competition. While the table may suggest that these two teams have been the worst in the competition, they have had their moments and failure to capitalize on it sees them in the current predicament which they are in. With the pressure off, both the sides will aim to showcase their natural flair and entertain the masses.

Match Info

Afghanistan vs West Indies, 42nd Match

Headingley, Leeds (3:00 pm IST)

Head-to-Head

Played – 5

Afghanistan wins – 3

West Indies wins –

N/R – 1

Team News

Afghanistan

Afghanistan have certainly picked up their performance levels in the last few games, competing well against much more fancied units. They gave a mighty scare to both India and Pakistan and had they held their nerves better, could have had a victory to their name. They will aim to sustain a similar level of performance in their final game of the campaign and hope that they finally get off the mark in the points table.

West Indies

West Indies fought valiantly till the very end in their game against Sri Lanka. Nicholas Pooran and Fabian Allen played the innings of their lives, which will be big positive for the future of Caribbean cricket. A lot was expected from the Windies after they started their tournament off with a bang. But they have failed to impress, with their mercurial temperament coming into question. They will hope to give a better indication of their true abilities in their final game of the tournament.

Key Players

Rashid Khan (Afghanistan): The West Indian batters have often looked susceptible against quality wrist spin. There are few better in the business than Rashid Khan who has had an underwhelming tournament by his standards. He will aim to sign off with a bang and weave his magic around the Windies batting order.

Nicholas Pooram (West Indies): Coming on the back off the innings of his lifetime, Pooran will be hoping to continue his good form. He is one of the better batters against spin in the Windies batting order, which will be a key factor. This time though, he will hope that he helps his team to get over the line.

Probable XI

Afghanistan: R Shah, G Naib (c), H Shahidi, Ikram Ali Khil (wk), A Afghan, M Nabi, N Zadran, S Shinwari, R Khan, H Hassan, Mujeeb ur Rahman.

West Indies: C Gayle, S Ambris, S Hope (wk), S Hetmyer, N Pooran, J Holder (c), C Brathwaite, F Allen, K Roach, O Thomas, S Cottrell.

Stat Attack

• Mohammad Nabi requires 31 more runs to overtake Mohammad Shahzad as the highest run-getter for Afghanistan in ODI cricket.
• Jason Holder has picked up 26 dismissals since 2015 with an angled in delivery.
• Chris Gayle has scored 25% of his runs in the mid-wicket region since 2015.
• Rashid Khan before CWC 2019: Inns 56, Wickets 125, Eco 3.9, SR 23.5
  Rashid Khan in CWC 2019: Inns 7, Wickets 5, Eco 5.88, SR 74.2