Afghanistan & Nepal seek to salvage campaigns

Overview

Afghanistan v Nepal
Bulawayo Athletic Club, Bulawayo
CWCQ Match 13
Saturday 10 March; 9:30 local time, 7:30 GMT

Afghanistan have been the shock performers of the tournament so far – and for all the wrong reasons. Their excellent recent form had them highly fancied in the run-up to the World Cup Qualifier but they have lost all three of their first three matches in the group stages, with minimal chance of making it through to the Super Sixes.

Following defeats to Scotland and – in dramatic fashion – Zimbabwe, their lowest ebb came in their third outing when they were beaten by Hong Kong. As things stand in Group B, Scotland (6 points from 3 games) and Zimbabwe (4 points from 2 games) are ahead of the pack, while the win over Afghanistan has given Hong Kong a chance. To get in among the top three and qualify for the Super Sixes, Rashid Khan’s team must not only beat Nepal in Bulawayo but also hope for Zimbabwe and Nepal to beat Hong Kong. That will put all three of Afghanistan, Nepal and Hong Kong on two points, with net run rate deciding who goes through.

Nepal are also winless so far and come into the game on the back of a four-wicket defeat to Scotland at Queens Club, Bulawayo. They did push the Scots hard though, at one point taking five wickets for 51 runs to make a game of things having been bowled out for 149. They’re up against an Afghanistan side as low on confidence as they have been for some time.

Key players

Rashid Khan (Afghanistan): With regular captain Asghar Stanikzai missing the whole tournament due to an appendicitis operation and senior pro Mohammad Shahzad out for the Hong Kong game through injury and for the Nepal match through suspension, it’s arguable that too much has been placed on stand-in skipper Rashid’s young shoulders. What’s for certain is that Afghanistan need him to rediscover his form with the ball. The world's No.1 ODI bowler has had a lean run by his usual lofty standards, picking up just four wickets so far, including three against Zimbabwe. If Afghanistan are to defy the odds from here, a big win to boost their net run-rate is required – and a magic spell from their talisman is the surest way for them to get it.

**Paras Khadka (Nepal):**The Nepal skipper was the linchpin of his team’s batting effort in their recent defeat to Scotland, his 75-ball 63 leading them to a total they could at least have a hope of bowling at. If the No.3 bat goes early Afghanistan will sense they have a chance of running though the Nepal line-up.

Conditions

Warm and sunny with a hint of cloud and 20 per cent chance of rain, the game should, at least, be completed, and how both sides need that to be the case.

Squads

Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (c), Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Javed Ahmadi, Ihsanullah Janat, Najibullah Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Samiullah Shenwari, Nasir Jamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Dawlat Zadran, Shapoor Zadran, Afsar Zazai

Nepal: Paras Khadka (c), Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee (wk), Lalit Bhandari, Shakti Gauchan, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Gyanendra Malla, Dilip Nath, Rohit Kumar, Lalit Rajbanshi, Basant Regmi, Anil Sah, Sompal Kami, Sharad Vesawkar