In a high-stakes clash at the Buffalo Park Cricket Ground, Nepal and Afghanistan lock horns in a crucial encounter of the ICC U-19 World Cup today at 1:45 PM. Both teams, having faced defeats in their first two matches, are now in a virtual knockout situation, with the pressure escalating as they battle for survival in the tournament.
Nepal, placed in Group D, suffered a 64-run loss against New Zealand and a five-wicket defeat against Pakistan in their opening matches. The team is now under immense pressure, as a victory is paramount for them to progress to the next stage. On the other side, Afghanistan, equally determined, eyes a win to secure their advancement in the tournament.
In Group D, Pakistan and New Zealand have already secured two consecutive victories, accumulating four points each and securing spots in the Super Six. Nepal and Afghanistan, however, find themselves without any points. The winner of today’s clash will clinch a coveted place in the next round, keeping their World Cup dreams alive.
The 15th edition of the U-19 World Cup in South Africa features 16 nations divided into four groups. Nepal is part of Group ‘D,’ alongside Pakistan, Afghanistan, and New Zealand. The top three teams from each group will progress to the next stage, where 12 countries will be divided into two groups for the Super Six matches.
Key Players to Watch:
Afghanistan:
- Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar: A 16-year-old off-spinner drawing parallels to Mujeeb ur Rahman, with his name appearing in T20 league auction lists.
- Hassan Khan Eisakhil: A batsman following in the footsteps of his famous father, Mohammad Nabi. Recently made a half-century in the team’s preparation tri-series match against India.
Afghanistan Squad:
Naseer Khan (C), Numan Shah (VC & WK), Hassan Eisakhil, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Khalid Taniwal, Ali Ahmad Nasar, Jamshid Zadran, Sohail Khan Zurmati, Rahimullah Zurmati, Allah Mohammad, Arab Gul Momand, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Bashir Ahmad, Khalil Ahmad, Zahid Afghan. Reserves: Wahidullah Zadran, Nasir Hassan, Usman Shinwari
Nepal:
- Dev Khanal: Skipper with experience in the Nepali senior team.
- Gulshan Jha: Another experienced player from the senior team.
- Arjun Kumal: Impressive performances in warm-up play and the ACC U19 Asia Cup.
- Durgesh Gupta: Left-arm seamer who has excelled in junior domestic cricket.
Nepal Squad:
Dev Khanal (c), Arjun Kumal, Aakash Tripathi, Dipak Prasad Dumre, Durgesh Gupta, Gulshan Kumar Jha, Dipesh Prasad Kandel, Bishal Bikram KC, Subhash Bhandari, Deepak Bohara, Dipak Bohara, Uttam Rangu Thapa Macar, Bipin Rawal, Tilak Raj Bhandari, Akash Chand
The match promises high stakes and exciting cricket as both teams vie for a spot in the next round.
