as the road to ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 begins seriously, afghanistan and this west indies Face to face in a tough challenge of three matches t20i series In United Arab Emirates. With the global tournament just a few weeks away, this opening encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium serves as an important dress rehearsal for two of the most explosive teams in the shortest format.
Both teams arrived in UAE with a point to prove. Afghanistan, led by indomitable people Rashid Khanhave selected a full-strength squad that mirrors their World Cup roster. the return of Naveen-ul-Haq And Gulbadin Naib The young sensation strengthens an already strong bowling attack Sediqullah Atal Wants to cement his place at the top of the order with explosive Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
West Indies led by brandon kingTesting their bench strength and tactical flexibility. While big names are preferred nicholas puran And andre russell The team remains dangerous even when absent for this particular series. Shimron Hetmyer Fresh off a dominant franchise season, and returning to peak form at a fast pace Shamar Joseph He is expected to lead a hungry, young bowling unit.
AFG vs WI, 1st T20I: Match Details
- date and time: 19 January; 8:00 PM IST / 2:30 AM GMT / 6:30 PM local
- venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
AFG vs WI head-to-head record in T20Is
Matches played: 08 | Afghanistan won: 03 | West Indies won: 05 | No result/tied: 00
Dubai International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium is expected to feature its uniquely balanced surface, which will provide a competitive contest between bat and ball. During the initial overs, the new ball often gets seam movement and extra bounce, making the powerplay a crucial phase for the openers. As the game progresses, the pitch becomes steeper, allowing batsmen to play their shots freely through the line. However, the mid-January evening dew would be a deciding factor; As the outfield slows down, the spinners may struggle to hold on, which will give the team batting second a huge advantage. As a result, the captain who wins the toss will opt to bowl first to take advantage of easy chasing conditions.
Also read: “Playing the World Cup is a dream”: Mohammed Siraj opens up on being ruled out of T20 World Cup 2026
squads
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Mohammad Ishaq (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Umarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Shahidullah Kamal, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Fazalhaq Farooqui, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Noor Ahmed and Ziaur Rehman.
West Indies: Brandon King (captain), Johnson Charles (wicketkeeper), Amir Zangu (wicketkeeper), Alek Athanaje, Casey Carty, Shimron Hetmyer, Evin Lewis, Quentin Sampson, Justin Greaves, Khary Pierre, Shamar Springer, Matthew Forde, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Moti, Jaden Seales and Raymon Simmonds.
AFG vs WI, 1st T20I: Today’s match prediction
Case 1:
- Afghanistan won the toss and bowled first
- West Indies’ powerplay score: 50-60
- West Indies’ total score: 180-190
Case 2:
- West Indies won the toss and bowled first
- Afghanistan’s powerplay score: 60-70
- Afghanistan’s total score: 190-200
Match Result: The team bowling first won the match.
Also read: Italy unveils squad for T20 World Cup 2026; These also include former South African batsman
