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T20 World Cup | AFG vs NAM: Namibia's dream run faces stern Afghan opposition on its way

Abhishek Singh

Namibia have won three matches in a row in the T20 World Cup 2021 and are having the time of their life as a team. They would look t continue their impressive showing as they face a stern challenge in Afghanistan which pushed the group leaders Pakistan to its limit until Asif Ali bailed them out. 

Thus this match is equally important for Afghanistan who would now try to win their remaining games to challenge both New Zealand and India for the all-important second position in the group to try and make it to the semi-finals. 

What's at stake?

For Namibia, it is a big-big chance to play against a team that is not as big as India, Pakistan and New Zealand and whose batting looks vulnerable. If they bowl to their potential, they might restrict Afghans to a total that might be given a try in the presence of the batters like David Wiese, Gerhard Erasmus and JJ Smit who have shown in various games that they have the quality to bat for a long time as well as hit big. 

For the Afghans, it is yet another opportunity to earn a big win and boost their confidence before a big game against India which might be the deciding game of the group given how hard Afghans have been playing and their skills that are coming good at UAE.

What needs to change?

For Afghanistan, it would be a test of their batting as their bowling would be more than just covered by their spin department. The batting looked supreme against Scotland as the small ground in Sharjah was utilised well by the left-handers. But Dubai was a big ground and against the pace of the Pakistani pacers, the Afghan batters were truly exposed. 

True that Namibia don’t have as fas bowlers as Pakistan, but the ground at Abiu Dhabi is immensely big and the Namibians bowl very good line length as has been evident from their last three games. Thus it can be troublesome for Afghanistan. 

For Namibia, their batting is a big issue. Apart from Wiese, Erasmus and JJ Smit, the batters at the top order have not been able to perform well. The likes of Zane Green, Craig Williams and Michale van Lingen need to pick themselves up and give a fiery start for the middle and lower order to build upon. 

Afghanistan vs Namibia: Match Details

Match Number - 27

Date and Time: October 31, 2021, 03:30 pm IST, 02:00 pm Local, 10:00 am GMT

Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Broadcast and Livestream: Star Sports and Hotstar

Pitch Report

The pitch at Abu Dhabi has been a trying wicket for the batters as it has generally remained slow. Most of the matches here have been played in the daytime and at day, a score of anything above 150 is getting difficult to chase. The pitch would be slow and sluggish and the shine on the wicket wouldn’t mean that it would be a bouncing wicket. It’s just a facade to varnish the wear and tear within. 

Weather Forecast

The temperature at the stadium will fall from 34-degree Celsius at 02:00 pm to 31-degree Celsius by 06:00 pm and similarly, the humidity will increase from 39% to 60% meaning that the wicket would be dry and help spinners. 

Team News

Afghanistan

The Afghan team could make one change and bring in Hamid Hassan in place of Karim Janat who had a horrid day at the office against Pakistan. Hassan is an experienced campaigner and has played many games. He can bowl quickly and hence a better option than Janat. 

Probable XI

Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (c), Asghar Afghan, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Karim Janat/Fareed Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb ur Rahman.

Namibia

For Namibia, there is no reason to change the playing XI as they have a settled team which can be very dangerous if all the players play to their potential. 

Probable XI

Craig Williams, Zane Green (wk), Gerhard Erasmus (c), Michael van Lingen, David Wiese, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, Pikky Ya France, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Ruben Trumpelmann, Bernard Scholtz

CE XI Fantasy team

Wicketkeepers Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 

Batters Hazratullah Zazai, Najibullah Zadran, Gerhard Erasmus

All-rounders Gulbadin Naib, David Wiese, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck

Bowlers Mujeeb ur Rahman, Rashid Khan, Ruben Trumpelmann

Vice-Captain David Wiese

Captain Mujeeb ur Rahman

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T20 World Cup | SA vs SL: David Miller overshadows Wanindu Hasaranga's hat-trick to take Proteas home

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