APL 2018: Match 10, Kandahar Knights vs Paktia Panthers, Match Prediction: Who will win the match?

The first season of the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) is progressing fast and the teams have also settled to their combination now. The 10th match of the tournament will take place between the Kandahar Knights and Paktia Panthers. The latter side has found its groove at the right time and is coming off a morale-boosting victory over the Balkh Legends the other day.

Mohammad Shahzad has been at the forefront for his team in every game and he is leading them well. The pieces have fallen in the right place for them and are topping the points table after their last victory thanks to a better net run-rate. The likes of Cameron Delport and Isuru Udana have been faring more than decently and the veteran Shahid Afridi has helped the skipper whenever needed as well.

Asghar Afghan is left with dealing all the problems in the Knights’ camp. They have failed to chase down and defend the total once each so far and have ended up on the losing side despite winning the toss on both the occasions. They are currently facing the Kabul Zwanan in their third encounter and in case, the team loses it, suddenly this game will become much like the must-win for the Knights.

Pitch

The first match of the doubleheaders have often proved not to be a high-scoring encounter in the APL so far and the norm might continue in this game as well. The heat is making the pitch slow it seems and yet another win the toss and bat first wicket is expected.

Team Combinations

Kandahar Knights

The Knights, at the moment, would not be thinking much about their team combination for this game. It is very important for them to concentrate on Kabul game. Also, they don’t have much space to tinker with the line-up which makes Brendon McCullum‘s role at the top-order crucial. The veteran T20 player needs to step up to the plate in the desperate times for his side.

Probable XI: Brendon McCullum, Paul Stirling, Karim Sadiq (wk), Asghar Afghan (c), Karim Janat, Kevin O Brien, Najibullah Zadran, Tymal Mills/Taskin Ahmed, Amir Hamza, Sayed Shirzad, Waqar Salamkheil

Paktia Panthers

Why change the winning combination unnecessarily? The team looks perfectly settled and amazingly, Shahzad is leading from the front. Even the Afghanistan contingent is doing well at the moment and the management will hope that they continue in the same vein and retain their top spot without much fuss. Afridi and Sikandar Raza are expected to do more though and if they come to the party, the Panthers will look unbeatable soon.

Probable XI: Mohammad Shahzad (c & wk), Ihsanullah Janat, Cameron Delport, Sikandar Raza, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Samiullah Shenwari, Shahid Afridi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Isuru Udana, Yamin Ahmadzai, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi

Probable Top Performers

Paul Stirling – Kandahar Knights | Cameron Delport – Paktia Panthers

Broadcast

TV – DSport

Match Timings: 17:30 IST; 16:00 local

The prediction is for the Knights to win this match and get back to the winning ways.

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