United Arab Emirates vs Afghanistan Prediction: UAE just won two in nine games

United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan are going head to head in the 1st Match of T20 Series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates on 29 Dec 2023. UAE has just won two games in all nine T20s played against Afghans. Who will win this game of cricket?

The UAE had a successful campaign in the recent T20 World Cup Qualifiers, finishing at the top of Group B. However, they were eliminated by Nepal in the semifinals. The team is now eager to make a comeback as they return to play on their home ground.

In the upcoming match, Muhammad Waseem is expected to be the opening batsman for UAE. He holds the record for the highest number of runs scored in the shortest format for his team and will aim to provide a strong start. Khalid Shah is likely to accompany him at the top of the order.

Vriitya Aravind has proven himself as a dependable middle-order batsman and the home team will be looking for a big innings from him. Other batsmen in the lower order include Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, and Asif Khan. 

When it comes to bowling, the hosts have a formidable pace attack. Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddiqui, and Ali Naseer have the ability to make early breakthroughs with the new ball. The spin department is expected to feature Aayan Afzal Khan and Nilansh Keswani.

Muhammad Waseem (c), Tanish Suri, Sagar Kalyan, Mayank, Rahul Chopra, Dhruv Parashar, Aayan Khan, Samal Udawaththa, Nilansh Keswani, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zuhaib

Afghanistan demonstrated a remarkable performance in the recent ODI World Cup held in India. Their team is now determined to maintain their positive momentum and finish the year on a high note. Hashmatullah Shahidi, the team captain, will lead a relatively young squad as some key players are unable to participate. In the absence of Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Riaz Hassan and Mohammad Ishaq are expected to open the batting. Although both players have yet to play a T20I, they aim to make a strong impression during their debut. The performance of the middle order, consisting of Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmat Shah, and Hashmatullah Shahidi, will be crucial for Afghanistan's success. These players displayed good form during the World Cup and much will rely on their performance. Additionally, Bahir Shah exhibited impressive skills during warm-up games and has the ability to make powerful strikes in the final overs. Fareed Ahmad and Yamin Ahmadzai are likely to commence the game with the new ball. Due to Rashid Khan's back injury, Zia Ur Rahman is expected to join the spin department alongside Sharafuddin Ashraf and Qais Ahmad.

Riaz Hassan, Mohammad Ishaq, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Akhil, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Bahir Shah, Fareed, Yamin Ahmedzai, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Qais Ahmed

It is probable that the team winning the coin toss will choose to bat first. The pitch at Sharjah Cricket Stadium is dry and flat, providing a decent amount of bounce but causing the ball to hold the pitch after bouncing. Batting is not particularly easy here, so the team batting first will aim to score around 150-160 runs. The spinners will have plenty of grip and turn to work with, requiring the batsmen to be cautious when facing them. The weather forecast for Sharjah predicts clear conditions with abundant sunshine, and the temperature will be pleasant at approximately 25 degrees Celsius.

We believe Afghanistan will emerge victorious in this match. They have performed well against the UAE in the past, and their recent strong performance in the World Cup should boost the team's confidence. Conversely, the UAE team is not as strong and is likely to struggle against the visitors. Our recommendation is to place a bet on Afghanistan to win.