Ireland vs Afghanistan – 1st T20 International Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Ireland vs Afghanistan taking place? Tuesday, August 9th, 2022 – 15:30 (UK)
Where is Ireland vs Afghanistan taking place? Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast
What is the expected weather for Ireland vs Afghanistan? 22-23c, dry with sunny intervals throughout and light winds
What channel is Ireland vs Afghanistan on? This game will be televised in the UK live on BT Sport.
Where can I stream Ireland vs Afghanistan? BT Sport subscribers will be able to stream the match live via the BT Sport website and app
LAST MEETING
Match Tied.
THE LOWDOWN
IRELAND
- Ireland have suffered nothing but disappointment this summer on the results front so far, losing to India, New Zealand and South Africa, although they may well see Afghanistan as more of a winnable series, particularly over five games.
- Conor Olphert remains sidelined from the Irish squad due to injury, with Fionn Hand selected once again although Hand may not be afforded a place in the starting line-up here.
AFGHANISTAN
- Afghanistan welcome the trio of Hashmatullah Shahidi, Naveen-ul-Haq and Ibrahim Zadran back into their T20i squad for this five-match series with Naveen especially an eye-catching addition following another excellent campaign for Leicestershire Foxes in the T20 Blast.
- Mujeeb ur Rahman has not been picked in the main squad due to a visa issue, but could be added at a later date, whilst experienced all-rounder Mohammad Nabi will captain the tourists.
THE PREDICTION
A really exciting series appears on the cards between these two nations and it will be interesting to see how Afghanistan cope playing on pitches that may not prove as beneficial for spin-bowlers as they would hope for. However, underestimate the visitors at your peril! Nabi’s side are an excellent T20i unit sprinkled with star quality through the likes of Rashid Khan, 17-year-old Noor Ahmad and Hazratullah Zazai, who became the youngest batter to ever score a T20i hundred when he smashed 162 not out from just 62 balls against Ireland back in 2019, a record beaten only last month by France’s Gustav McKeon. Ireland have struggled to break a losing habit all summer and when taking into account that the hosts have lost 12 of their last 13 T20 fixtures against Afghanistan, it is the tourists who have to be favoured for victory in this opening game.
