Match Details:
The 1st match of the Shpageeza Cricket League, 2020 will be played between Mis Ainak Knights and Band-e-Amir Dragons at the Kabul International Cricket Stadium.
The match starts at 1:30 PM local time (2:30 PM IST) (9:00 AM GMT).
Preview:
The 2020 Shpageeza Cricket League will kick off on Sunday which will be only the 2nd edition of the league with official T20 status. Mis Ainak Knights and Band-e-Amir Dragons will clash off in the first match of the tournament in the afternoon. The two teams were the finalists of the previous two editions of the tournament. The Mis Ainak team won the 2019 edition by 4 wickets during a last-over thriller while the Band-e-Amir team were victorious in 2017 final by a margin of four runs. The Kabul International Cricket Stadium will be hosting this 6-team tournament spread over two weeks.
Weather Condition/Report:
The Shpageeza Cricket League barely gets affected by weather conditions and same is expected on Sunday.
Pitch Condition/Report:
The Kabul International Cricket Stadium will be hosting as many as 19 matches across 11 days which includes nine doubleheaders. The opening game on Sunday is the only solo match of the tournament and hence we can expect it to be played in best batting conditions.
Average first-innings score: 166 (During SCL 2019)
Record of chasing teams: Won – 14, Lost – 5
Injury and Availability News:
(Will be added when there is an update)
Probable Playing XIs:
Mis Ainak Knights:
Mohammad Shahzad, Afsar Zazai, Najibullah Tarakai, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Shahidullah Kamal, Dawlat Zadran, Noor Ahmad, Shapoor Zadran (C), Abdul Mazari, Abdul Baqi Popal.
Bench – Abid Taniwal, Mohammad Nabi, Sadiqullah Pacha, Bahar Ali Shinwari, Jamashed Khan, Ghamai Zadran, Ibrahim Khan.
Band-e-Amir Dragons:
Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Usman Ghani, Asghar Afghan (C), Nasir Jamal, Ikram Alikhil, Tariq Stanikzai, Sharafudin Ashraf, Mirwais Ashraf, Hamid Hasan, Wafadar Momand.
Bench – Waqar Salamkhil, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Sardar, Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai, Imran Mir, Perviz Amin.
Top Picks:
Mohammad Shahzad probably has the best batting record in T20s among Afghanistan players but Sunday’s game will be his first on Afghanistan soil.
Shahidullah Kamal batted in 12 SCL innings since 2017 where he aggregated 311 runs and also picked up 13 wickets from 13 matches thus far.
Ibrahim Zadran aggregated 293 runs from nine SCL innings at an average of 48.83 and also picked up six wickets across 21.3 overs he bowled.
Hazratullah Zazai’s numbers aren’t as promising as his T20I career as the left-hander scored only one fifties in 14 SCL matches since 2017.
Captain and Vice-Captain Selection:
Captain options – Mohammad Shahzad, Shahidullah Kamal, Ibrahim Zadran
Vice-Captain options – Hazratullah Zazai, Asghar Afghan, Najibullah Tarakai
Suggested Playing XI for Head to Head/Small Leagues:
Keeper – Mohammad Shahzad (C)
Batsmen – Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Hazratullah Zazai (VC), Ibrahim Zadran
All-Rounders – Shahidullah Kamal, Sharafudin Ashraf
Bowlers – Dawlat Zadran, Shapoor Zadran, Hamid Hasan, Wafadar Momand
Suggested Playing XI for Grand Leagues/Mega Leagues:
Keeper – Mohammad Shahzad, Afsar Zazai
Batsmen – Asghar Afghan, Usman Ghani, Ibrahim Zadran (C), Najibullah Tarakai
All-Rounders – Shahidullah Kamal (VC), Sharafudin Ashraf
Bowlers – Dawlat Zadran, Noor Ahmad, Mirwais Ashraf
Expert Advice:
Band-e-Amir Dragons have got a squad of players who have gone on to represent the Afghanistan team either at senior level or at least in Under-19 cricket. Hence, our probable XI of the Dragons includes the players who have had the experience of playing for the national team.
Probable Winners:
Band-e-Amir Dragons could be seen defeating the Mis Ainak Knights in the tournament opener.