Afghanistan vs England: Match preview, pitch report and TV listing
What's the story
The ICC World Cup 2019 is up and running as the match number 24 is set to see Afghanistan and England going head-to-head at the Old Trafford in Manchester on Tuesday. Afghanistan are winless so far in the tournament and would look to register their first win, while England eye the top position. We present the preview and other details for this tie.
Previous tie
Afghanistan succumb to South Africa, England triumph Windies
While Afghanistan are coming off a loss to South Africa, England scripted a win against Windies. In their previous match, Afghanistan displayed a dismal performance as they witnessed a batting collapse. Meanwhile, England overcame Windies by eight wickets. England enter the tie as firm favorites. They would look to script a big win tomorrow to almost seal their semi-final birth.
Team news
Rashid Khan, Joe Root among players to watch out for
As far as the players concerned, Afghanistan would rely on all-rounder Rashid Khan, with both bat and ball, to make a serious impact. Also, skipper Naib's pace would play a crucial role in this tie. For England, Joe Root has been their most lethal weapon, courtesy of his flawless form, while Mark Wood could also play a role with his sheer pace.
Do you know?
England have won the only ODI tie against Afghanistan
Considering their World Cup meetings, both the teams have met once, with England winning it. It was also their only ODI clash to date. Notably, both the teams would be facing off against each other for the first time in England in ODIs.
Pitch report
A high-scoring track could await at Old Trafford
The venue has hosted only one match in the tournament so far, where India beat Pakistan on Sunday. While the match was a high-scoring one from India's perspective, Pakistan did not have a good time batting. The pitch is expected to assist batsmen. However, with a 60-70% chance of rain, the team winning the toss might like to bowl first.
Predicted XI
Here is the predicted XI for both the teams
Afghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai, Noor Ali Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Gulbadin Naib (captain), Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Ali Khil (wicket-keeper), Rashid Khan, Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan. England: James Vince, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (captain), Jos Buttler (wicket-keeper), Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Liam Plunkett, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.
Match details
When, where and how to watch?
Match: Afghanistan vs England Venue: Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester Time: 3:00 PM IST Where to watch (TV): Star Sports 1, 2, Select 1 and other regional languages channels of Star Sports. Where to watch (Online): Hotstar