PAK vs AFG: Preview, Key Matchups and Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips

AFG vs PAK in 2019 World Cup [PC: Twitter]

The tenth match of the Asia Cup 2022 will see two fierce competitors Pakistan and Afghanistan locking horns with each other in Sharjah. 

While Pakistan started their Super four journey with a stunning victory over arch-rivals India, the Afghans suffered a crushing defeat from their Sri Lankan counterparts in their first Super four encounter. Afghanistan's opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz is in scintillating touch. However, they would like their middle order to step up in this crucial game. 

Match Details

Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Live Streaming: Star Sports Network and Hotstar

Pitch Report: The surface at the iconic Sharjah ground has been spin-friendly so far. The bounce has relatively been lower than that in Dubai and the tweakers have challenged the batters to a great extent. The wicket is on the drier side, which is why the toss-winner will likely opt to bat first. 

Key Match Analytics

Pakistan and Afghanistan have clashed in two T20Is, with the former emerging victorious in both games. 

Highest Active Run Scorer

Babar Azam: 51 runs in one match, Average: 51, Strike Rate: 108.51
Najibullah Zadran: 60 runs in two matches, Average: 30, Strike Rate: 117.64

Highest Active Wicket taker

Haris Rauf: 1 wicket in 1 match, Economy: 9.25
Mohammad Nabi: 2 wickets in 2 matches, Economy: 7.12

Key Matchups

Babar Azam vs Mohammad Nabi

Babar Azam in action [PC: Twitter]

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has averaged a mere 20.25 and struck at an ordinary rate of 83.50 against right-arm off-spinners in the shortest format since 2020. So his battle with Afghanistan's premier spinner Mohammad Nabi will be interesting. 

Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs Mohammad Nawaz

Rahmanullah Gurbaz has averaged just three and struck at a miserable rate of 46.2 against left-arm off spinners in the powerplay in T20Is this year. So, we shouldn't be surprised if Babar Azam opens the bowling with Nawaz straightaway. 

Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips

Wicket-keepers: Mohammad Rizwan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Batters: Babar Azam, Najibullah Zadran, Ibrahim Zadran
All-rounders: Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad nabi, Shadab Khan
Bowlers: Rashid Khan, Naseem Shah, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Captain: Mohammad Rizwan
Vice Captain: Mohammad Nawaz

Also Read: Asia Cup 2022: Avesh Khan ruled out of the tournament with illness