Afghanistan vs New Zealand in World Cup today: Afghans had created upsets in ODI World Cup, could never defeat the Kiwi team

In the year 2023, the biggest ODI cricket tournament, the ODI World Cup, was played in India between the top 10 teams of the world. No one expected Afghanistan to win any match in this tournament. Many veterans believed that the team would lose all the matches in the tournament just like in 2019.

Afghanistan lost its first two matches and the team’s losing streak from the 2019 World Cup continued. However, Afghanistan did not give up and started a period of upsets. The team defeated England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Netherlands and staked its claim for the semi-finals. Then, Australia’s Glenn Maxwell ended the team’s hopes by scoring a double century.

However, amidst these consecutive matches full of upsets played by Afghanistan, there was one team which gave a big defeat to Afghanistan. That was New Zealand. The Kiwis defeated Afghanistan by 149 runs. Today, the same Afghanistan is going to face New Zealand. Till now, the Afghanistan cricket team is waiting for a win against New Zealand.

The team suffered three defeats against New Zealand in the ODI World Cup and one defeat in the T20 World Cup.

Match details before interesting facts and records of both the teams…

Afghanistan Vs New Zealand June 8, Providence Stadium, Guyana Toss: 4:30 AM, Match start: 5:00 AM

Both teams have clashed once in T20
The only match between Afghanistan and New Zealand in T20 format was in the 2021 World Cup. In this match too, Afghanistan escaped a crushing defeat. However, New Zealand won the match.

In this match, Afghanistan batted first. New Zealand had taken 4 wickets at a score of just 56. Afghanistan was in a precarious situation. The team was saved here by Najibullah Zadran. Coming at number five, he scored 73 runs in 48 balls and took Afghanistan’s innings to a respectable score of 128 runs. However, New Zealand easily chased the target in 18.1 overs with 8 wickets in hand.

Trent Boult was the Player of the Match for taking 3 wickets in the T20 match against Afghanistan.

Importance of the match- This is New Zealand’s first match in the T20 World Cup 2024. Whereas, it is Afghanistan’s second. Afghanistan’s team will come with winning momentum after winning the first match against Uganda. If Afghanistan wins, then it can claim a place in the Super-8.

Roll of the toss- In the current tournament, batsmen have faced a lot of difficulties on this ground. Fast bowlers will get movement in the beginning, while spinners can prove useful in the middle overs. The team winning the toss will prefer to bat first.

Top players of Afghanistan and New Zealand in T20 cricket…

Eyes on the stars…

New Zealand

1. Finn Allen – Finn Allen has batted brilliantly for New Zealand in the last 12 months. He has scored the most runs. At the same time, he also batted at a strike rate of 167. He is the only Kiwi batsman to score a century in the last 1 year.
2. Tim Southee- Tim Southee has shown excellent form and has taken the most wickets in the last 1 year. He has 23 wickets in 16 matches.
3. James Neesham- Missing from IPL, James (Jimmy) Neesham will also be seen in the World Cup. Neesham has scored 156 runs in 10 matches for New Zealand.

Afghanistan

1.Ibrahim Zadran- Ibrahim is the team’s top scorer in the last 12 months. He has scored 444 runs in 15 matches, which includes 5 half-centuries.
2. Azmatullah Omarzai – He is the top wicket taker of the team in the last 1 year. He took 18 wickets in 15 matches. He also scored 166 runs.
3. Rehmanullah Gurbaz- Wicketkeeper batsman Gurbaz K has scored 433 runs in the last 15 matches.

Possible Playing XI
New Zealand: Kane Williamson(captain), Devon Conway (wicketkeeper), Rachin Ravindra, Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Lockie Ferguson, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee and Trent Boult.

Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi.