Afghanistan Preview - 2023 Cricket World Cup

Afghanistan will be heading into their third Cricket World Cup with bigger hope than they had previously and will look to challenge the big boys. Afghanistan have shown promise here and there but could this be the tournament they turn up to be a serious threat.

Afghanistan made their first appearance at the World Cup in 2015, where they were grouped alongside the likes of Sri Lanka, England and the hosts Australia in Group A. They managed to win only one game, beating Scotland by one wicket.

The 2019 edition had the same format as the upcoming World Cup with 10 teams competing in a round-robin format. Afghanistan faced all the other nine teams but could not win a single game.

In total, Afghanistan have played 15 World Cup matches, winning one and losing 14 games. Among the teams who have played at least 10 matches at the World Cup, only Scotland have a worse win-loss ratio.

Afghanistan haven't had a great time ahead of the tournament. They lost both their group matches in the Asia Cup and before that, were defeated by Pakistan in all three games. In Indian conditions, they would be hoping to turn things around and put up a better challenge.

For the Cricket World Cup 2023, Afghanistan are going in with six batters, four all-rounders and five bowlers. 

Here is Cricket Betting’s analysis.

Afghanistan Batters Analysis

The ninth team on ICC's ODI rankings, Afghanistan have some exciting batters in their ranks but they will need to fire collectively more often. In their recent fixture against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup, they needed to chase 292 in around 37.1 overs. They almost pulled off a spectacular win but fell two runs short due to the lack of awareness from the management and players.

Afghanistan have a pretty good opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. Gurbaz has hammered two centuries in the format this year and was excellent in the Indian Premier League on Indian pitches. Ibrahim has scored 478 runs this year with one century and four half centuries.

Rahmat Shah is one of their most experienced batters and will bat at number three. He has 3269 runs in ODI cricket at an average of 36 with five hundreds. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi will have the responsibility to keep the innings together in the middle order. He has looked in good touch, scoring back to back fifties versus Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Mohammad Nabi is a key part of the line-up, adding firepower in the lower middle order. He was magnificent against Sri Lanka, where he blasted 65 in just 32 deliveries. Najibullah Zadran will also be there to provide finishing touches. Gulbadin Naib did a decent job with the ball in the Asia Cup but Afghanistan opted to go with Azmatullah Omarzai. The three of these players will be vital for them in finishing the innings.

Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman both are capable with the bat and add depth to the side. Rashid's batting exploits in the T20 arena are well known while Mujeeb recently smashed 64 off just 37 against Pakistan.

Riaz Hassan and Ikram Alikhil are two spare batting options in the side. One of them could get a few opportunities if Afghanistan opt for an extra batting option in the playing XI. 
Afghanistan Wicketkeepers Analysis
Afghanistan have two wicket-keepers in their squad for the ODI World Cup. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ikram Alikhil. Gurbaz is their primary keeper, who is also their designated opening batter. He has a pretty good record in the fifty-over format with 958 runs at 38 average and 85 strike rate.

Alikhil will be the backup keeper. He has played only 14 ODIs, having made debut in 2019. His recent form hasn't been great either to force a place in the playing XI unless an injury to someone. 

Afghanistan Bowlers Analysis

During the Asia Cup, Afghanistan's bowling attack looked pretty toothless and that will need to change in the ODI World Cup. They will primarily rely on their spin attack to challenge the nine other teams. The trio of Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have a huge job to do in India.

Mujeeb usually operates in the first half of the innings and is pretty economical more often than not. He has taken 14 wickets from 11 games this year at an economy of 4.58, with best figures of 3 for 33.

Rashid is the king of T20 cricket but hasn't been as effective in the fifty-over format. He has pretty great numbers with 172 wickets in 94 games at an average of 19.53, but needs to step up against the top teams.

Nabi operates in the middle overs and generally keeps things tight. The veteran all-rounder has picked 10 wickets this year at an economy of 4.44. Left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad is a back-up option and could get an opportunity on turning pitches.

Moving to the pace department, Afghanistan have four options in Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Abdul Rahman and seam all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai.

Farooqi and Naveen are likely to form the frontline pace attack with Omarzai bowling a few overs. However, the current ODI form of these players hasn't been great. Abdul Rahman, who has played three ODIs and picked one wicket, will be the back-up. 

Cricket World Cup 2023 – Afghanistan Predictions and Summary

Afghanistan to have a group-stage exit. Their hopes hinge on how well their bowling attack, especially spinners do on these pitches. They could challenge a few teams but reaching the top four looks pretty difficult.

Ibrahim Zadran to be Afghanistan’s top run-scorer. He's arguably their most solid batter and has scored 911 runs in ODI cricket at an average of 54. He has four centuries and as many half centuries.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to be Afghanistan's top wicket-taker in the tournament. The off-spinner has 93 wickets from 66 ODIs, at an economy of 4.15 with four four-wicket hauls.

Full squad – Team Afghanistan:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Rahmat Shah, Riaz Hassan, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Abdul Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-Ul-Haq