The upcoming T20 World Cup match between Afghanistan and Ireland will be the first time the two teams face each other in this format, despite having competed against each other 23 times previously. The rivalry between these two teams was born from their battle for Associate supremacy throughout the 2010s before being elevated to Test status in 2017. The outcome of this match is unpredictable, but Afghanistan has a better head-to-head record against Ireland, mainly due to Rashid Khan’s wickets. However, Ireland has proven to be able to defeat Afghanistan without Rashid’s wickets, as seen in their five-match series in 2018.
Ireland’s current captain, Andy Balbirnie, has recently placed himself in the opening slot and has justified the decision by tripling his previous career score of T20I half-centuries, including the most recent one against England at the MCG. On the other hand, Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz was one of three players to hit a half-century during the five-match series played in Belfast in August.
George Dockrell, who recovered from Covid-19, will most likely participate in the game. The two teams are expected to use the same lineup as their previous games. The MCG is known to favor chasing teams, and it has been predicted that it will rain on Friday, which may affect the outcome of the game.
Controversial Cricket World Cup: Which Match Takes the Crown?
There have been several controversial Cricket World Cup matches over the years, but one of the most notable ones is the 1996 World Cup quarter-final match between India and Sri Lanka. The match was played in front of a hostile crowd in Kolkata, India, and after a poor start, the Indian team collapsed, losing seven wickets for just 22 runs. Angry fans began throwing objects onto the field, and the match was eventually called off, with Sri Lanka being awarded the victory via the Duckworth-Lewis method. The incident remains one of the most controversial moments in cricket history.