Sharjah is all set to host the AFG vs IRE three-match T20I series after the ODI series. The matches start from 9.30 pm IST with the first match on March 15, Friday which is 8 pm local time.
Afghanistan won the ODI series 2-0 in the absence of Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. They won the first ODI by 35 runs and the third by 117 runs with the second ODI washed out.
Rashid Khan is back in the team now and will lead the side in this series. This will be his first international assignment since the World Cup. Mujeeb Ur Rahman has also recovered from his right phalanx sprain and is back in the T20I side.
Many players from the Afghanistan side will fly to India to play in the IPL 2024 after this T20I series. This T20I series and the following IPL season is a big opportunity for Afghan players to sharpen their skills ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024.
Ireland was well and truly dominated by Afghanistan in the ODI series. They lost the series 2-0 and were not competitive enough after the Test win. Ireland will led by Paul Stirling who took over from Andre Balbirnie as the ODI captain. The batting rests on the likes of Stirling, Balbirnie, Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector. The bowling group includes Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Craig Young, and spinner Andy McBrine.
Afghanistan and Ireland have played 32 ODIs including the two recent ones. Afghanistan has won 18 while Ireland has 13. In 23 AFG vs IRE T20Is, the Afghans have won 13 while the Irish only have six. Both teams have won two games each in the last five T20Is.
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AFG vs IRE Weather Report Live Today And Pitch Report Of Sharjah Stadium – 1st T20I, 2024
Weather Report Of Sharjah
Despite the rained-off ODI game in the second ODI, the weather conditions in Sharjah have been pretty hot and humid. The first T20I starts at 9.30 pm IST which is 8 pm local time in Sharjah. The conditions are expected to be partly cloudy in the evening with temperatures around 22 degrees. There is no chance of rain.
Pitch Analysis
Sharjah has hosted 45 T20I games with 25 matches won by the team batting first and 20 chasing. Teams are better off setting the total in Sharjah. Dubai is amongst the chasing grounds in the UAE in T20I games. The average first innings score is around 140 but the venue is a high-scoring ground. A total of around 180-200 is expected.
Weather Impact on AFG vs IRE 1st T20I
The weather conditions will be hot and humid in Sharjah. It rains in the UAE between November and March generally but as per Accuweather, the weather forecast is very decent for cricket with no chance of rain. An evening game means that conditions will be a little better under the night sky. Humidity will be close to 60 percent.
Conclusion
A winning start will be the ideal one for both teams in the first T20I. Ireland after the ODI series loss is more hungrier for the win and would like to pose a challenge to their opponents from Asia.
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