United Arab Emirates vs Afghanistan Prediction: Afghanistan lead 1-0 in series

The United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan are going head to head in the 2nd Match of the T20 Series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates on 31 Dec 2023. Afghans have a 1-0 lead in three-game series and will be looking to seal it in this match. Who will win this game of cricket?

The hosts will be disappointed with the outcome of the first match as the loss was expected, but it would have been painful for the team. The bowling performance was mediocre as none of the bowlers had a significant impact on the game. Jawadullah and Junaid Siddiqui, the opening bowlers, managed to take only one wicket each and conceded a lot of runs. They will be joined by Ali Naseer in the fast bowling department. The spin attack will be led by Nilansh Keswani, Aayan Khan, and Basil Hameed. Moving on to the batting lineup, Muhammad Waseem and Khalid Shah will open for the hosts and they will be expected to provide a quick start. Vriitya Aravind was the standout performer with the bat, scoring 70 runs while losing wickets kept happening around him. The team has included young players like Samal Udawaththa and Tanish Suri in the middle order and their performance will be crucial.

Muhammad Waseem (c), Khalid Shah, Vriitya Aravind, Tanish Suri (wk), Basil Hameed, Samal Udawaththa, Ali Naseer, Aayan Afzal Khan, Nilansh Keswani, Muhammad Jawadullah, Junaid Siddique

As anticipated, Afghanistan displayed a clinical performance in their first match and triumphed over the hosts by a margin of 72 runs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz showcased exceptional form by scoring a century in just 50 deliveries, marking his first century in the shortest format. Hazratullah Zazai is expected to accompany him as the opening partner. Najibullah Zadran, despite recent struggles, will also contribute to the top-order batting line-up. Afghanistan possesses several talented all-rounders including Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Mohammad Nabi. With Rashid Khan absent, Noor Ahmad will assume leadership in the spin department, supported by Qais Ahmed and Nabi. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen Ul-Haq will spearhead the bowling attack with the new ball.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Qais Ahmad, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

The team that wins the toss will probably choose to bat first. The pitch at Sharjah lacks grass and is dry. It provides a good amount of bounce, allowing batsmen to play their shots. A score of around 180 is considered average. The dry surface also gives an advantage to spinners, especially in the latter half. The weather should remain clear with temperatures ranging from 23 to 25 degrees Celsius.

In the previous match, Afghanistan achieved a decisive victory. They have a well-balanced team and a few players who are currently in good form. On the other hand, the UAE has struggled to perform well and we anticipate their difficulties to persist. It is advisable to place a bet on Afghanistan to win.