Scotland and Afghanistan will face off in the second One-Day International (ODI) of the two-match series in Edinburgh on Friday. The series is being played as part of the Afghanistan team's preparations for the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup, beginning on May 30. The first game of the series was washed out without a ball being bowled on Wednesday, therefore, the visitors will be hoping that they will get much needed game time before going to England. In the previous five meetings between both teams, two games were washed out whereas on two occasions, Afghanistan came out on top and Scotland managed to win just once.
Grange Cricket Club in Edinburgh will be used as the venue for the contest, which will be hosting its 20th ODI on Friday. Highest team score at the venue in a 50-over contest of 371-5 was registered by Scotland in the match against England in 2018, whereas lowest team total of 101 was also registered by the home side in the match against Sri Lanka in 2011. Highest individual score of 151 at the venue in an ODI was registered by Australia's Shaun Marsh in 2013, whereas best bowling figures of 5-29 was registered by Zimbabwe's Graeme Cremer.
In the batting department, Afghanistan will be depending on the likes of wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad, veteran right-hander Asghar Afghan and young Hashmatullah Shahidi to score bulk of the runs, whereas on the bowling front, the onus will be on the likes of
Scotland and Afghanistan will face off in the second One-Day International (ODI) of the two-match series in Edinburgh on Friday. The series is being played as part of the Afghanistan team's preparations for the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup, beginning on May 30. The first game of the series was washed out without a ball being bowled on Wednesday, therefore, the visitors will be hoping that they will get much needed game time before going to England. In the previous five meetings between both teams, two games were washed out whereas on two occasions, Afghanistan came out on top and Scotland managed to win just once.
Grange Cricket Club in Edinburgh will be used as the venue for the contest, which will be hosting its 20th ODI on Friday. Highest team score at the venue in a 50-over contest of 371-5 was registered by Scotland in the match against England in 2018, whereas lowest team total of 101 was also registered by the home side in the match against Sri Lanka in 2011. Highest individual score of 151 at the venue in an ODI was registered by Australia's Shaun Marsh in 2013, whereas best bowling figures of 5-29 was registered by Zimbabwe's Graeme Cremer.
In the batting department, Afghanistan will be depending on the likes of wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad, veteran right-hander Asghar Afghan and young Hashmatullah Shahidi to score bulk of the runs, whereas on the bowling front, the onus will be on the likes of captain Gulbadin Naib, pacer Hamid Hasan and spin-duo of Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman to provide timely breakthroughs.
On the other hand, for the home side, the game propose an opportunity for them to show the world that they belong to the highest level of the game and perhaps was unfairly treated by game's governing body as they missed out on a place in the upcoming mega event. In the batting department, the team will be heavily relying on the likes of captain Kyle Coetzer, veteran opener Calum MacLeod and left-hander George Munsey to score bulk of the runs, whereas on the bowling front, the onus will be on the likes of pacers Safyaan Sharif, Alasdair Evans and Brad Wheal to provide timely breakthroughs.
Player Recommendations:
Batsman: Kyle Coetzer (11.5 Cr)
First in the list of key players features Scotland's Kyle Coetzer. The 35-year-old is a seasoned campaigner and has represented his national team in 50 ODIs, where he has scored 1,969 runs at an impressive average of 42.80, which included four centuries and 12 fifties.
Wicketkeeper: Mohammad Shahzad (9.5 Cr)
Second in the list of key players features Afghanistan's Mohammad Shahzad. The 32-year-old is one of the most experienced player in the team. Shahzad has represented his country in 79 ODIs, where he has 2,562 runs at an average of 33.71, which included five centuries and 13 fifties.
All-rounder: Mohammad Nabi (11.5 Cr)
Third in the list of key players features Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi. The 34-year-old is a proven customer in the white-ball cricket where he has played 111 ODIs for his national team, scoring 2,565 runs at an average of 29.14 and also has 118 wickets to his name.
Bowler: Safyaan Sharif (8.5 Cr)
Last in the list of key players features Scotland's Safyaan Sharif. The right-arm pacer is the bowling spearhead in the team as he has 54 wickets to his name after representing his national team in 34 ODIs at an average of 26.25, which included two four-wicket and one five-wicket haul.
Predicted Playing XI:
Scotland: Calum MacLeod, Kyle Coetzer (captain), George Munsey, Michael Jones, Matthew Cross (wicketkeeper), Richie Berrington, Michael Leask, Safyaan Sharif, Alasdair Evans, Brad Wheal, Mark Watt
Afghanistan: Mohammad Shahzad (wicketkeeper), Najibullah Zadran, Asghar Afghan, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Noor Ali Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shinwari, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Gulbadin Naib (captain), Hamid Hasan
