Afghanistan vs Ireland: Getting the monkey off your back is the first step towards making things happen. or just the way it seems. A cursory glance at the head-to-head highlights Afghanistan’s superiority over Ireland in this arrangement. The current score is 4-1, with Ireland’s lone victory being in Belfast back in 2019. Afghanistan went on to win all three of the matches in the 2021 ODI series in Abu Dhabi after winning the next ODI in that series in Belfast.
That makes the significance of Ireland’s test victory against Afghanistan very evident. It was not only their first victory in the lengthier format, but it also gave the Irish people hope that a test victory in a foreign country against a country like Afghanistan is by no means an anomaly. It’s the product of years of dedication and the selection of talented athletes who possess the capacity to perform at any level.
The Irish will be hoping to harness the same intensity that helped them get the monkey from their back and apply pressure to Afghanistan from the outset of this One-Day International series.
The 1st ODI match between Afghanistan vs Ireland will take place from March 7th, 2024, at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Match Details to Note:
Match: Afghanistan vs Ireland, 1st ODI match
Date: March 7th, 2024 (Thursday)
Time: 05:00 PM IST
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Afghanistan vs Ireland
Afghanistan (Match Odds- 1.57)
Preview
It is surprising that Afghanistan lost a test in the United Arab Emirates against a team that is still struggling in test cricket—Ireland. And the Afghanistan players must have been a little startled by that outcome. The batsmen were at a disadvantage since they clearly battled against the Irish pacers and promptly gave up for a small first-inning total. Additionally, their bowlers allowed Ireland to get off to a more than respectable start, pushing the margin above 100. And so Afghanistan’s contest had concluded.
They batted better to go above 215 but it was never going to be enough as they could never get back into the game. Their bowlers were unable to make the most of what they had in terms of the total to defend, and they need far more to put the Irish hitters to the test in the fourth innings.
However, Afghanistan knows ODI far better than anyone else and approaches it quite differently. Its spin assault doesn’t appear as dangerous as it usually does since both of its spinners, Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Rahman, are out with injuries. However, they have a strong batting lineup, so they’ll be hoping that their batsmen can put up enormous totals that their bowlers can stop them from reaching.
Full Squad:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Ikram Alikhail (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Noor Ali Zadran, Abdul Malik, Baheer Shah, Nasir Jamal, Karim Janat, Khalil Gurbaz, Zahir Khan, Zia Ur Rehman Akbar, Nijat Masoud, Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai and Naveed Zadran.
Players to watch out for in:
Ibrahim Zadran
Afghanistan have a strong batting lineup, so they’ll be hoping that their batsman Ibrahim Zadran can put up enormous totals that their bowlers can stop them from reaching.
Gulbadin Naib
Naib was a valuable all-around player who could contribute with a few medium-paced overs. He batted later in the order and was a handy change bowler.
Possible Playing XI:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Fazal Haq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Riaz Hassan, Farid Ahmad Malik, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ibrahim Zadran, Naveed Zadran.
Ireland (Match Odds- 2.40)
Preview
Afghanistan and Ireland have faced each other thirty times in the One-Day International format worldwide. However, this Sharjah fixture will be quite different. It follows Ireland’s historic victory in their first-ever test match at the Tolerance oval against Afghanistan. Ireland, who was selected to bowl first, ran through the Afghanistan onslaught with remarkable technique and discipline with the bowl. With Mark Adair leading the attack and taking 5 wickets in the first over and 3 in the second, for a total match haul of 8 wickets, the fast bowlers claimed 19 of the 20 wickets that fell.
Craig Young and Barry McCarthy bowled well together in both innings. Many players raised their hands and scored crucial runs in the batting department, giving Ireland a commanding 108-run advantage that ultimately proved to be the winning margin. Half-centuries were struck by Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie in the first and second innings, respectively. A previous test victory gives you more confidence than anything else, but switching to an a new deck and the ODI format is not an easy task.
And Ireland will undoubtedly face a very difficult task when facing Afghanistan’s spinners on the sluggish and dry Sharjah surface. It should be entertaining to watch, though, since they are battling it out with the same core group of players from the test series.
Full Squad:
Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Foster, Graham Hume, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Paul Stirling (c), Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Theo van Woerkom, Craig Young.
Players to watch out for in:
Paul Stirling
Half-centuries were struck by Paul Stirling in the first and second innings, respectively.
Mark Adair
Mark Adair leading the attack in the test and taking 5 wickets in the first over and 3 in the second, for a total match haul of 8 wickets, the fast bowlers claimed 19 of the 20 wickets that fell.
Possible Playing XI:
Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Theo van Woerkom.
Afghanistan vs Ireland Toss Prediction:
In these shorter configurations, throw is really important, particularly as the dew creeps in. Furthermore, it will be much simpler to bat in the second half if the weather turns a bit misty. And that gives the pursuing squad a significant edge.
Afghanistan vs Ireland Pitch Report:
Spinners have always benefited greatly from the Sharjah surface. It will remain that way. The Irish have Andry McBrine and Theo van Woerkom, who bowled effectively as a duo in the test match, while Afghanistan has brought in some new players to bolster their decreasing spin supplies. We’re hopeful that the weather will hold up since the prediction is good for the day.
Afghanistan vs Ireland Match Report:
Despite losing the test, Afghanistan is our favourite in these One-Day Internationals. They felt comfortable in this format and were extremely near to making it to the world cup semifinals. Afghanistan benefits from this.
We predict Afghanistan to win the Afghanistan vs Ireland match at the odds of 1.57
Afghanistan vs Ireland Most Recommended Player for Bet:
Afghanistan have a strong batting lineup, so they’ll be hoping that their batsman Ibrahim Zadran can put up enormous totals that their bowlers can stop them from reaching.
