Balkh Legends vs Kabul Zwanan Prediction

Team News

Fitratullah Khawari was dropped last time out, after proving expensive in his first appearance. He was replaced by Zamir Khan who took 1-20 from two overs, with Zahir Shehzad missing out again. Kabul Zwanan still do not appear to have settled on their best bowling attack, but the batting line-up has at least been consistent – Hazratullah Zazai and Luke Ronchi opening before Laurie Evans provides some middle-order runs.

Key Players

Laurie Evans was top scorer in the t20 Blast and the uncapped Englishman has continued that form in Sharjah. He hit three half centuries in the first five games – scoring 79*, 64 and 57* before his first batting failure last time out, when he was dismissed for just 13.

Hazratullah Zazai’s hitting stole the headlines earlier in the tournament, however, when he hit the APL’s first century. Hazratullah’s 124 from 55 balls against Nangarhar Leopards helped Kabul to victory, and he hit 40 from 22 against the same opponents last time out.

That included an 80-run opening partnership with Luke Ronchi, who scored his first APL half-century as he was dismissed for 50 from 31 balls.

World number one T20 international bowler Rashid Khan, Kabul’s captain, has come in for some punishment with the ball in recent matches but his international reputation preceeds him. While he has not fired, however, Shahidullah has been economical in the last two games, following 2-18 from four overs (and 33 with the bat) with 0-14 from three overs last time out.

Team Form

Kabul Zwanan have won three matches so far, but they suffered defeat last time out against Nangarhar Leopards. They beat Nangarhar in their first meeting, when Hazratullah Zazai hit his 55-ball 124 to chase 189 to win with seven wickets to spare and won their game in between too, a narrow defeat of Kandahar Knights. Laurie Evans scored 57 not out in a total of 173/6 and it was only some late hitting that took the Knights to within two runs of chasing that down.

Last time out, however, Nangarhar Leopards posted 182/5 and, despite the opening partnership from Hazratullah Zazai (40) and Luke Ronchi (50), the Kabul Zwanan innings faded and they finished 15 runs short on 167/9.