AFG vs PAK 1st T20 Match Prediction & Betting Tips
Afghanistan will be hosting Pakistan in a 3-game T20 series beginning Thursday, which would be the first-ever series T20 International series between the two nations. While both teams have got a plethora of superstars at their disposal, let us take a detailed look at the pitch report, predicted playing XI, and much more before the festivity begins at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in UAE.
Afghanistan will be only featuring in its second T20 series after the conclusion of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2022. Given that Rashid Khan will be leading the side, Afghanistan will be hoping to cling to the best form possible before the start of another ICC event later this year.
World No. 3 side - Pakistan can even improve their place in the rankings if they thump Afghanistan n a one-sided series. However, as Shadab Khan leads the team in this series, marquee figures like Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, and Haris Rauf are all rested.
Afghanistan vs Pakistan 1st T20 Match Live Streaming
TV channels: Live action will be available on the Geo Super and PTV Sports.
Live Streaming: Live action of AFG vs PAK can be watched on the Fan Code App in India.
AFG vs PAK Match Toss Prediction
Out of the 29 T20I matches played at this venue, 16 have been won by teams batting first as the average score in the first innings is 151. This is just why, both captains will look to bat first at this venue.
AFG vs PAK, Sharjah Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
This is a dusty and dry wicket that helps the fast bowlers generate extra bounce. The batsmen will be expected to take their time to settle in.
Sharjah Weather Report
There are no chances of rain as the humidity will peak around 59% during the match hours. The temperature is expected to be around 25 to 18 degrees.
Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds, and match prediction for Afghanistan vs Pakistan 1st T20 Match 2023
Afghanistan Team News & Playing 11
AFG Team News
While tall left-arm pacer Sediqullah Atal might be making his debut in this T20I series, Rahmat Shah and Hazratullah Zazai are the two noticeable exclusions from the team.
AFG Key Players
- Rashid Khan - Having shown just how dangerous he can be on Asian tracks, Rashid Khan needs to be at his best if Afghanistan is to win this series against Pakistan.
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman - Having taken 9 wickets in the last 9 games, bowling at an economy rate of under 6.7 runs per over, Rahman’s performance in the middle overs can be key for the home side.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz - Having played at an average of just 22.5 in the last 10 games, Gurbaz will be hoping to make amends since the first T20I game against Pakistan
AFG Team Form
After the 2022 T20 ICC World Cup, Afghanistan is entering this series after beating UAE 2-1 in their previous one.
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Afghanistan Predicted Playing 11
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (C), Azmatullah Omarzai, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Pakistan Team News & Playing 11
PAK Team News
With the likes of some veterans being sidelines due to workload management, the away side can feature a rich blend of youngsters in their starting XI. This includes the likes of top-order batter Saim Ayub, formidable pacer - Ihsanullah, and explosive middle-order batsman - Tayyab Tahir.
PAK Key Players
- Iftikhar Ahmed - Having scored 166 runs in his last 10 games for Pakistan, Iftikhar needs to be at his mature best batting alongside some quality yet inexperienced youngsters.
- Ihsanullah - Mutan Sultans’ marquee Ihsanullah proved to be the find of PSL 2023 and will be expected to bowl well in the death overs if he wants to be a part of Pakistan’s World Cup squad in India.
- Shadab Khan - The veteran spinner and now the captain of the side, will hold the key in the middle overs with the ball.
PAK Team Form
Interestingly, Pakistan has never feature din any T20I series after the end of 2022 T20 ICC World Cup.
Pakistan Predicted Playing 11
Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Haris (Wk), Shan Masood, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan (C), Imad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Ihsanullah, Zaman Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Afghanistan vs Pakistan Head to Head
Both these spoken-off nations have squared off against each other only three times in the history of international T20Is wherein the away side have edged victorious in all occasions.
AFG vs PAK Head to Head Stats in T20's
| |
Matches Played |
AFG Won |
PAK Won |
Tie |
No Result |
| Overall |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| Last 5 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
Afghanistan vs Pakistan Betting Odds
While Pakistan is heading into this T20I series with the majority of their young finds via the domestic circuit and PSL, the bookmakers seemed to have edged them as the favorites against an experienced Afghanistan side heading into this game on Thursday. The away side has a win ratio of 54% as compared to the home side’s 46%.
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Who will win Afghanistan vs Pakistan 1st T20 Match?
Given the nature of the pitch, fast bowlers can prove to be the vital clog ins securing a win in this T20I series. On that aspect, Pakistan does seem to have more variation and talent at its disposal.
Afghanistan vs Pakistan Prediction
This game has the potential to be a last-ball thriller by all means. Given that Pakistan seems to have a more aggressive fast-bowling lineup which is more suitable for Sharjah, the likes of Rashid Khan and Mohammas Nabi can be vital in Afghanistan fighting for a win. However, we predict Pakistan to beat Afghanistan in a nail-biting contest on Thursday courtesy of their batting order.
Mar 24, 2023
21:30 IST / 16:00 GMT
Sharjah Cricket Stadium - Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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