FANTASY PREVIEW
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Afghanistan: W W W W L
Papua New Guinea (PNG): L L L W W
Head to Head
Overall: Matches 1 | Afghanistan 1 | PNG 0
Venue details and weather forecast
Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad
Note: All data in T20Is since 2023
Toss impact: Matches 4 | Toss win - Bat 1 | Toss win - Bowl 3 | Bat 1st won 3 | Bat 2nd won 1
Average first innings score: 174
Average first innings winning score: 188
Pace vs spin split: Economy 8.4 and strike rate of 15.1 vs Economy of 8 and strike rate of 16.9
We can expect overcast weather conditions in Trinidad, but no rain is expected during the match with the temperatures hovering between 27-28°C.
Players to watch out for
Rahmanullah Gurbaz: Two matches, two fifties and two century opening stand, Rahmanullah Gurbaz is certainly the man in form. He is the leading run-getter in the tournament having hit 156 runs at a strike rate of 154.45. He has been the real force behind both of Afghanistan's wins in the T20 World Cup so far. He has been excellent against both pace and spin this World Cup, having struck at 158.93 and 148.89 respectively.
Fazalhaq Farooqi: 9 wickets at an average of 2.88, strike rate of 4.88 and economy rate of 3.54, safe to say, Fazalhaq Farooqi has already taken the T20 World Cup by storm. Five of his five wickets have come in the powerplay, where he stuck once every six deliveries at an economy rate of 4.6. the PNG batters, especially their top-order have their task cut out against the left-arm pacer.
Assad Vala: PNG skipper Assad Vala has been a crucial cog for some time now and he will have to bring all his experience into play, if the Barramundis are to make a match of this. Vala has managd three wickets in the tournament at an ecpnomy rate of 6.33, but has not really come to the party with the bat yet. PNG will hope that he turns it up against Afghanistan to give their fans something to smile about.\
Key battles
While Gurbaz has not shown glaring weakness in the tournament, his opening partner Ibrahim Zadran has given the opposition a glimpse of his weakness against spin, striking at a just a little over 94 in the tournament. In T20Is this year, Zadran has a strike rate of just 92.3 agianst left-arm orthodox his lowest among all bowling types. John Kariko can certainly exploit this weakness given he has a stpendous record against right-handed batters. In T20Is since 2023, 21 of Kariko's 26 wickets have come against right-handers, doing so at an average of 13.3, strike rate of 16 and economy rate of five. It promises to be an exciting battle.
Cricket.com’s suggested Fantasy XI
Probable XIs
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (c), Karim Janat, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi
PNG: Tony Ura, Assad Vala (c), Lega Siaka, Sese Bau, Hiri Hiri, Kiplin Doriga (wk), Charles Amini, Norman Vanua, Alei Nao, Chad Soper, John Kariko
Streaming and Telecast
The match will begin at 6 AM India time on June 14, be telecast on Star Sports, and streamed on Disney Plus Hotstar.
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