ICC World Cup 2019 Match 42, Afghanistan v West Indies: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Afghanistan and the West Indies played the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018. Now, with both of them eliminated from the race for the semi-finals the clash between the two sides on Thursday, 4 July at Headingley becomes a dead rubber. However, for Afghanistan, it may mean slightly more than the West Indies because they haven’t won a game yet in the 2019 World Cup.

Afghanistan have taken many teams to their limits but haven’t been able to cross the line. They would, however, draw inspiration from their win over the West Indies in the final of the qualifier, which was also the last time the two teams clashed in an ODI. The spin trio of Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been one of the major reasons behind all their success so far in the tournament even though the efforts haven’t resulted in a win. 

Their batting has failed them more often than the bowlers. The batsmen have played extravagant shots when the need had been to take the game deep and consequently there haven’t been many partnerships. This is the last chance for Afghans to make an impact on the tournament.
West Indies, on the other hand, have been spirited all throughout the tournament. They have stuck to their plan of going all out, with bat and ball, despite the varying degree of success it has brought. On at least two occasions, the Caribbeans have found themselves not too far behind the asking rate but with not many wickets remaining — against New Zealand and Pakistan. 

Carlos Brathwaite stepped up on one occasion and Nicholas Pooran did on the other. Both of them got hundreds but couldn’t take their team home. Similarly, the bowlers have stuck to their plan of bowling the hard lengths, not worrying whether the batsmen take them for runs, as Bangladesh did successfully when they chased down 322. West Indies are likely to stick to the same plan.
Head to head 

Afghanistan hold the edge over the West Indies in ODI tally – they lead 3-1. The teams have never met in the World Cup so far and they last clashed in that World Cup Qualifier final in Harare in March 2018 where Afghanistan won by seven wickets.

Key players

Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan): Nabi has been Afghanistan’s go-to man with the ball in most games and has done decently with the bat as well. This could be his last World Cup and he would like to finish on a high. He is his team’s highest wicket taker with 9 wickets from 8 matches at a good economy rate of 5.32.

Nicholas Pooran (West Indies): Pooran showed in the last match that the investment made into him despite his inconsistent returns was worth the effort. Along with Shai Hope, he has looked as the only other batsman capable of batting through the innings.

Likely XIs

Afghanistan: Gulbadin Naib (c), Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shinwari, Ikram Ali Khil (wk), Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

West Indies: Chris Gayle, Sunil Ambris, Shai Hope (wk), Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder (c), Carlos Brathwaite, Fabian Allen, Shannon Gabriel, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas.

Prediction

Afghanistan pick up their first win of the tournament.