Afghanistan vs Ireland Prediction: Afghanistan have slight edge in head-to-head games

Afghanistan and Ireland are going head to head in the 1st Match of One Day Series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates on 07 Mar 2024. Afghanistan have a slight edge in head-to-head games between the two teams. Who will win this game of cricket?

In the upcoming series, there will be new additions to the Afghanistan cricket team. Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan, experienced spinners, are still recovering from injuries and will not be available. Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar and Naneyalia Kharote have earned spots in the team for the series against Ireland, along with young bowler Bilal Sami who did not play in the previous series against Sri Lanka. Despite his talent, Sami has not played any international matches yet. Another key player is wrist spinner Qais Ahmed, who had some trouble with control in the Sri Lanka series. Shahidullah Kamal and Zia Ur Rahman are also crucial members of the team. Ibrahim Zadran has been the top batsman for Afghanistan lately, averaging 32.16 with 193 runs in his last six innings. Naveen Zadran has been in great form as a bowler, taking nine wickets in his last four innings.

Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Fazal Haq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Riaz Hassan, Farid Ahmad Malik, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ibrahim Zadran, Naveed Zadran

Harry Tector, a right-handed batter, has been the leading run-scorer for Ireland in their recent matches, accumulating 535 runs in his last 14 innings at an average of 41.15. Paul Stirling has also contributed well, scoring 415 runs in his previous 14 games. George Dockrell, another right-handed batter, has been in excellent form with the bat for Ireland, scoring 407 runs in his last eleven innings at an average of 58.14. These players are expected to be the top batters for Ireland in the upcoming ODI.

Mark Adair, a fast-medium bowler, will lead the bowling department for Ireland in the one-day international series, having taken 24 wickets in his last 17 innings at an average of 30.75. Josh Little has also performed well in ODIs for Ireland, but he will not be available for this contest. Graham Hume has also been a standout bowler for Ireland in recent matches, picking up 16 wickets in nine games at an average of 20.31. These bowlers will be crucial for Ireland in this upcoming contest.

Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Theo van Woerkom.

The upcoming game will take place at the Sharjah Cricket Ground in Sharjah, UAE, where a total of 239 ODIs have been played. Historically, the team batting first at this venue has emerged victorious in most matches.

The Sharjah Cricket Stadium features relatively small boundaries, making it a high-scoring ground. However, the pitch may not necessarily favor batsmen, as bowlers can expect some assistance from the track. As the game progresses, the wicket tends to become more challenging for batting.

Weather conditions for the Afghanistan vs. Ireland match are expected to be sunny and pleasant, with a possibility of some cloud cover that could benefit the fast bowlers. Rain is not forecasted, and the bowlers are unlikely to get much assistance from the weather.

Despite Ireland's victory in a previous test match during their UAE tour, ODIs present a different challenge. Afghanistan possesses a strong lineup and is favored to perform better in this series. Our prediction is for Afghanistan to win the opening match and take an early lead in the series.