Kandahar Knights vs Paktia Panthers Prediction

KDK Team News

Kandahar Knights made more tweaks to their batting line-up, with Asghar Afghan promoted to open and responding with his second half-century of the tournament.

He partnered out-of-form Paul Stirling but, with the Irishman’s duck meaning he has scored five runs in his last four innings, his place could be in doubt. Compatriot Kevin O’Brien has not featured since the second game and is one possible replacement, while Brendon McCullum could be promoted to open.

KDK Key Players

Asghar Afghan returned to form with 60 from 31 balls, including five sixes, at the top of the order. It was second half-century, having also hit 52 from 32 balls in the previous meeting with Kabul Zwanan, while another knock of 45 from 32 balls means he is now 48 runs ahead of any of his team-mates.

Very few of his team-mates have shown any form with the bat in APL, however – though Riki Wessels’ late arrival has been a positive one. Called up after a string of their overseas players had to drop out before the tournament, Wessels hit 46* from 23 balls in his first game, while his patient 22 against Nangarhar Leopards helped the Knights to their only victory so far.

Karim Janat was the star of that win, hitting 40 of his 127 runs so far to steer Kandahar to a defendable total. He then took 2-19 from four overs with the ball and continued that excellent form with 3-14 from four last time out. He now has nine wickets in the tournament.

Sayed Shirzad, who took 4-19 when these two teams last met, is the tournament’s joint-top wicket-taker with 12, however. He had 2-13 from three overs when he stepped up to bowl the penultimate over last time out, only to concede 23 runs as Rashid Khan powered his side to victory.

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Kandahar Knights lost their first four matches, as their batsmen struggled for runs in the first half of the group stage. A total of 139/9 in their opening game against Nangarhar Leopards was well below par – they lost by six wickets – while they fell short in chases of 165/5 and 173/6 in their next two game (though Asghar Afghan’s 52 and Riki Wessels’ 46 from 23 almost steered the latter their way as they eventually lost by just two runs).

Last time they faced Paktia Panthers, they bowled them out for 127 only to collapse to 118 in reply, but they did record their first win in the following match – recovering from 27/5 and 75/8 to score 136/8, before bowling Nangarhar Leopards out for 110.
They were on top against Kabul Zwanan last time out too, defending a 152/5 anchored by Asghar Afghan’s 31-ball 60, but they conceded 23 runs in the penultimate over as Kabul claimed a four-wicket win.