CWC 2019: How the teams might line up for their first match

#9 Afganistan

Rashid Khan

Though Afghanistan will start as the underdogs, they have enough strength to spoil the party of other teams. The inclusion of Hamid Hassan instead of Shapoor Zadran was the biggest surprise from their selection.

Experienced Mohammed Shahzad and Hazratullah Zazai will in all probabilities open for the team. They will be followed by Hashtamullah Shahidi, who has scored three half-centuries in the last 5 international matches. Coming in next would be Rahmat Shah, who also recently scored a century against Scotland. The onus of finishing would he on Mohammad Nabi and their skipper Gulbadin Naib.

Afganistan's bowling is reliant on their spin trio of Rashid Khan, Mohammed Nabi and Mujeeb ur Rahman. A lot will depend on how they, and especially Rashid, fare in the tournament. Hamid Hassan and Dawlat Zadran will be the two pacers, backed up be Gulbadin Naib, their sixth bowler.

Playing XI - Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmat Shah, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib (c), Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Hamid Hassan