Kandahar Knights vs Nangarhar Leopards Prediction

Kandahar Knights Team News

Kandahar Knights tweaked their batting line-up following Riki Wessels arrival as their new overseas player but, opening the batting with Karim Sadiq pushed into the middle order, he could not repeat the form he showed in his first match.

Waqar Salamkheil took 2-19 after replacing Amir Hamza in the only change between the last two defeats, and Kandahar could stick with the same side as a result - though Kevin O'Brien is waiting in the wings with fellow Irishman Paul Stirling out of form.

Kandahar Knights Key Players

Asghar Afghan's batting has been one of very few highlights batting-wise for Kandahar, but even he fell short in the nine-run defeat to Paktia Panthers. Previously he had hit 45 from 32 balls and 52 from 32 in his last two innings.

Riki Wessels' arrival looked positive when he smashed 46* from 23 balls on his debut - leading Kandahar to within two runs of an unlikely win - but he could not replicate that up the order. Brendon McCullum scored 18 from 22 balls last time out, and he has also not been able to showcase his best T20 form.

All remain dangerous if they can get firing, however, as does Kevin O'Brien - who could come back into the team.

The bowlers have at least had something to cheer, with Sayed Shirzad claiming seven wickets in his last two games - including 4-19 against the Paktia Panthers. Waqar Salamkheil returned to the team with 2-19 from four overs last time out, meanwhile - he has four wickets in three games so far.

Kandahar Knights Team Form

Kandahar Knights have played four games and lost them all, starting with their six-wicket loss to Nangarhar Leopards in their opening match. They posted just 139/9 in that game, before falling 13 runs short of Balkh Legends' 165/5 in their second game - despite 45 from captain Asghar Afghan.

They were much improved against Kabul Zwanan, chasing 173/6, as Asghar hit 52 from 32 balls before Riki Wessels' late hitting - 46 from 23 balls - led them to within just two runs of Kabul's total.

Last time out, however, their batting let them down again in a low-scoring defeat to Paktia Panthers. Sayed Shirzad's 4-19 from 3.2 overs counted for nothing as the Knights were all out nine runs short of Paktia's 127 all out.