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New Zealand vs Afghanistan ... T20 World Cup

ghazi52

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NZ look to avoid Afghanistan upset as India subplot looms large

For New Zealand, a victory will send them through; Afghanistan are in with a chance too, but a win for them will likely favour India more

Have New Zealand and Afghanistan relied heavily on their bowling?
Have New Zealand and Afghanistan relied heavily on their bowling? (2:07)

Big picture

Afghanistan might already be one of the most popular choices globally for cricket fans' second-favourite international team, but when they take the field on Sunday, they'll have more supporters rooting for them than ever before. Twitter is already full of India fans with Afghanistan flags next to their usernames. R Ashwin has already joked about India offering the services of their physiotherapist to speed up Mujeeb Ur Rahman's recovery from the injury that's kept him out of Afghanistan's last two games.

But there's a lot more to this game than the India subplot.

New Zealand and Afghanistan are both still in the semi-finals race. New Zealand have the simpler task - win and they're through, no matter what India do later against Namibia. And if they do go through, they'll be on course to complete a hugely impressive set of all-formats results in ICC tournaments - they were ODI World Cup runners-up in 2019, and they clinched the World Test Championship mace earlier this year.

An Afghanistan win is likelier to send India into the semis than themselves, but given how improbable their journey has been in getting as far as they have as a cricketing force, why would you rule out another improbable twist? They certainly have the firepower, with the bat and more so with the ball, to make that happen - particularly if Mujeeb is fit.

But no matter how far they go in this tournament, Afghanistan's players will leave the T20 World Cup bubble - a refuge that is, for them, more than merely bio-secure - and return to realities that most of their counterparts from other nations would scarcely comprehend. These are hugely uncertain times for this brilliant group of players, so whether you're an Afghanistan fan, an India fan, or anyone else, be sure to wish them well.

Form guide

Afghanistan LWLWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
New Zealand WWWLW

In the spotlight

When he hits it right out of the screws - that whipped six off Jasprit Bumrah, for example - he looks like one of the most dangerous powerplay hitters in the world, but Hazratullah Zazai has only lit up this tournament in brief spurts so far, as a strike rate of only 116.88 - his career strike rate is 148.64 - would suggest. Three of the four highest totals of this tournament have come at Abu Dhabi, so if there are runs to be had on Sunday, Zazai could choose no better time to unleash his full repertoire.

Trent Boult has taken eight wickets in this World Cup already, but contrary to expectations, only two have come in the powerplay. Abu Dhabi can offer a bit of early assistance to the seamers, though, and if Boult can get the new ball swinging, he probably offers New Zealand their quickest and most efficient route to victory.

Team news

It's unclear yet if Mujeeb is fit to play, but if he is, he's likely to take the place of the left-arm spinner Sharafuddin Ashraf, who was expensive against India on the same ground.

Afghanistan (probable):

1 Hazratullah Zazai, 2 Mohammad Shahzad (wk), 3 Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 4 Gulbadin Naib, 5 Najibullah Zadran, 6 Mohammad Nabi (capt), 7 Karim Janat, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Sharafuddin Ashraf/Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 10 Naveen-ul-Haq, 11 Hamid Hassan.

A stinging straight hit from David Wiese struck Ish Sodhi on the head during New Zealand's last match against Namibia, but the legspinner has passed a concussion test and is available for selection on Sunday.

New Zealand (probable):

1 Martin Guptill, 2 Daryl Mitchell, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Devon Conway (wk), 5 Glenn Phillips, 6 James Neesham, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Adam Milne, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Trent Boult.
 
Won’t be watching this as I’ll be catching up on sleep, hopefully I wake up to good news
 
NZ should bat first. Btw is Mujeeb fit for the match?
Over a Billion Indians would be supporting the Afghan Brothers in their triumph over the Kiwis.

Go Afghans win the match and clear the path to the Semis for your Big Brother India .

We promise to repay the favor and take revenge on your behalf from one particular team in the Finals. 8-)
Dream on. Btw don't Indians feel shame that only criteria to qualify for the semis is to beat minnows because big boys thoroughly thrashed India badly left and right.
 
Regardless of result, it's commendable how Afghanistan have quickly risen in cricket at world stage in just few years compare it to BD who have been unable to shed off their minions tag for over three freaking decades
 
Over a Billion Indians would be supporting the Afghan Brothers in their triumph over the Kiwis.

Go Afghans win the match and clear the path to the Semis for your Big Brother India .

We promise to repay the favor and take revenge on your behalf from one particular team in the Finals. 8-)

itna pyar hai tu how about we shift all the Afghan refuges to you people? bari bari batain karnay sai kuch nahin huta ... buss sirf hawai fire lol
 
Over a Billion Indians would be supporting the Afghan Brothers in their triumph over the Kiwis.

Go Afghans win the match and clear the path to the Semis for your Big Brother India .

We promise to repay the favor and take revenge on your behalf from one particular team in the Finals. 8-)
you are probably getting out in the group stages but talking about finals LOL
koi sharam hoti hai
 
Over a Billion Indians would be supporting the Afghan Brothers in their triumph over the Kiwis.

Go Afghans win the match and clear the path to the Semis for your Big Brother India .

We promise to repay the favor and take revenge on your behalf from one particular team in the Finals. 8-)

LOL this day had to come. Very tasty.
 
#AfghanBrothers & #BigBrotherIndia

Lets see how long this love & support lasts for Team Afghanistan...

Hope they'll find new homes in India from all the money they've earned from this Tournament.
 
I for one would love for Afghans to beat NZ- Final a** of ICT would be cherry on top of this wc campaign (if India doesn't chock in semis that is)
 
Over a Billion Indians would be supporting the Afghan Brothers in their triumph over the Kiwis.

Go Afghans win the match and clear the path to the Semis for your Big Brother India .

We promise to repay the favor and take revenge on your behalf from one particular team in the Finals. 8-)

As if Pakistan and Kiwis thumping wasn't enough for your miserable team who now have to rely on Afghanistan to qualify, guess Indians are getting addicted to being thumped and want to feel that one more time atleast in this competition. Sad state of affairs.
 
Over a Billion Indians would be supporting the Afghan Brothers in their triumph over the Kiwis.

Go Afghans win the match and clear the path to the Semis for your Big Brother India .

We promise to repay the favor and take revenge on your behalf from one particular team in the Finals. 8-)
Over a billion people couldn’t raise a team good enough to beat a nation of 5 million - now begging and praying for Afghanistan to beat them? Lol Indians are embarrassed to be Indian.
I don't see any way in which Afg can beat NZ
They can win if they pay and fix. Not impossible and has happened before. Give Afghan a few dollars and they are anyones
 
Pakistanis who would you rather face in the final being Pakistan gets there and England loses their semi final

Afganistan
New Zealand
India

having seen the way Pakistan and New Zealand played around with India as if it was a new born puppy and annihilated india in the group stages I’d go with and say that india will be the easiest out the three teams . Afghanistan has been awesome in these finals when they’ve played and I’d be more worried to face the afghans in the final than New Zealand or India . New Zealand are a strong team as well and mentally tough to drag the game in their favour .

india bowling is weaker out the three and batting has been in terrible form as shown in the ease with which Pakistan and New Zealand amassed runs .

here’s hoping Afghanistan beat New Zealand and take the 2nd & 3rd strongest team from the group out of the competition and let India through . England might have an off day in the semi final as could Pakistan but the two have been by far the outstanding teams of this world t20 & will be rubbing there hands with glee at the thought of playing india over New Zealand/ Afghanistan .
 
Over a Billion Indians would be supporting the Afghan Brothers in their triumph over the Kiwis.

Go Afghans win the match and clear the path to the Semis for your Big Brother India .

We promise to repay the favor and take revenge on your behalf from one particular team in the Finals. 8-)
What if afgahnistan wins by a big margin and u dont from namibia? It will be funny if that happens lol
 

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