Ireland vs Afghanistan 1st ODI, 11Wickets Fantasy Cricket League – Team News & Playing XI

Ireland is preparing to welcome Afghanistan for a two-match ODI series tomorrow. For Afghanistan, this is their warm-up match before they travel to England to participate in the Cricket World Cup. The first ODI is scheduled to be played on May 19 at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast at 3:15 PM IST. Glance on the statistics below which can help you to pick your 11Wickets fantasy XI.

Venue Details:

Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast is one of the three cricket playing venues of Ireland. It is new ground for the ODI matches and has been used since 2006, although established in 1949. It had been the selected world cup 2015 venue.

Team News

Afghanistan:

The batting strength of Afghanistan team resides mainly in their line-up Mohammad Shahzad, Rahmat Shah, Asghar Afghan and Mohammad Nabi. Mohammad Nabi is one of the most consistent performers with both bat and ball. Rashid Khan and mystery spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman can be threat for the host.

Players to choose from

Noor Ali Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Najibullah Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Samiullah Shenwari, Gulbadin Naib (C), Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Shahzad (W), Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Ireland:

Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie, William Porterfield and Kevin O’Brien are the key figures in Ireland’s batting line-up and at least two of them will have to produce good knocks if they are to put pressure on Afghanistan. Stirling and Balbirnie were the team’s best batsmen in the recent tri-series. Ireland has finished as third in recent series and is eager to perform better in this two ODI series against Afghanistan.

Players to choose from

William Porterfield (C), Andy Balbirnie, James McCollum, Tyrone Kane, Kevin O Brien, Paul Stirling, Lorcan Tucker, Gary Wilson (W), Mark Adair, George Dockrell, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Tim Murtagh, Boyd Rankin, Joshua Little

Previous Playing Records

Both the teams have played 25 ODI matches together earlier, out of which both the teams won 12 matches each. One ODI match brought No Result.

Afghanistan – Players to Watch

Gulbadin Naib and Rashid Khan

Ireland – Players to Watch

Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie

Suggested 11wickets Playing XI

Wicket Keeper – Mohammad Shahzad

Batsmen – Hazratullah Zazai, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Kevin O Brien, Andy Balbirnie

All-Rounders – Gulbadin Naib, Paul Stirling, Mark Adair

Bowlers – Rashid Khan, Aftab Alam, Joshua Little

Captain – Paul Stirling

Vice-Captain – Andy Balbirnie

12th Man – Gary Wilson

Our match Preview:

Afghanistan might take some time to adapt to foreign conditions.

Ireland has the benefit of playing at home conditions.

Ireland couldn’t perform in the recently concluded tri-series; they will surely be low of confidence.

Afghanistan has a tough spin attack line-up which includes Rashid.