Match Details
The BRSABVE Cricket Stadium in Lucknow is set to host an exciting encounter between Afghanistan and Netherlands on Friday, 3 November.
Match Overview
Both Afghanistan and Netherlands have shown promising performances in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, with impressive victories over top-tier teams. They are now eyeing a spot in the knockout stages.
Afghanistan, with a potential fourth win, could level up with Australia and New Zealand, securing a strong position in the race for the knockout stages.
Despite only two wins, the Netherlands could significantly boost their semi-final prospects with a victory in this crucial match.
The teams have faced each other in nine ODIs, with Netherlands winning the first match in 2009 and another in 2012. However, Afghanistan dominated all three matches in Doha last year. The stakes are now higher than ever for these two emerging cricket powerhouses.
Team Line-ups
Netherlands:
Scott Edwards (c), Max O’Dowd, Bas de Leede, Vikram Singh, Teja Nidamanuru, Paul van Meekeren, Colin Ackermann, Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Ryan Klein, Wesley Barresi, Saqib Zulfiqar, Shariz Ahmad, Sybrand Engelbrecht.
Afghanistan:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman, Naveen ul Haq.
Players to Watch
Netherlands – Scott Edwards
Scott Edwards, the Netherlands’ captain, has been a standout performer, amassing 204 runs in six matches, including two half-centuries. His top scores of 78* and 68* were instrumental in the Netherlands’ victories over South Africa and Bangladesh, respectively. Edwards will be a key player in the upcoming match against Afghanistan.
Afghanistan – Hashmatullah Shahidi
While Afghanistan’s opening pair Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran are a threat to any bowling attack, it’s captain Hashmatullah Shahidi who often delivers the decisive performance. With an unbeaten 48* against Pakistan and 58* against Sri Lanka, Shahidi has accumulated 226 runs in the tournament. His performance will be crucial for Afghanistan’s chances of advancing to the knockout stages.