Predicting opening combinations of all teams for T20 World Cup 2020

7. Afghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz have emerged as a consistent opening pair for Afghanistan. Since the start of 2019, the duo has opened together in 7 games and has racked up 264 runs at an average of 37.71 with three half-century stands. 

Individually, Zazai [501 runs in 12 innings at an average of 45.54] and Rahmanullah Gurbaz [227 runs in 7 innings at an average of 32.42] are the two leading run-scorers when it comes to openers for Afghanistan since the start of 2018. 

Usman Ghani- 152 runs in 5 innings at an average of 30.4- remains another option. That said, Mohammad Shahzad’s ban has been lifted recently and considering the fickle nature of the Afghan administration, who knows we might see the swashbuckler come into contention or even open in the World Cup. That said, Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz are the prime contenders for the same as of now.