It doesn’t matter whichever team wins this clash as it could not bother the World Cup points table, yet it is an important fight for both the teams to end their campaign with a consolatory smile on their faces.
Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi celebrates fall of Virat Kohli's wicket during the 28th match of World Cup 2019 between India and Afghanistan at The Rose Bowl in Southampton, England on June 22, 2019. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
The West Indies face Afghanistan on Thursday in a dead rubber game at Headingley, Leeds. With this match, the journey of both the teams will end here as none of them has made it to the knockout round.
The West Indies, who entered the tournament to salvage their pride and glory, failed to impress, the main reason being their inconsistency. Windies’ win against Pakistan at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on May 31 is the side’s only victory so far in the tournament. After this, they were through ups and downs, through some nervy moments, especially with their encounters against New Zealand and Australia, but eventually the 2-time World Cup champions failed to cash-in the opportunities and lay at 9th spot in the points table with just 3 three points from 8 matches.
However, their opponent Afghanistan are yet to break their duck as they have lost all the matches played so far in this World Cup. Though Afghanistan have had a forgettable outing, they will take this as an experience — something they missed badly during some close encounters.
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The Gulbadin Naib-led side, which was believed to be one of the weakest teams this World Cup gave tough fights to India and Pakistan but it was Afghanistan’s inexperience that led them ending on the losing side.
Moreover, their batsmen and fast bowlers failed miserably at the mega event. It was only their spinners who lived up to the expectations to test the mettle of the opposition.
It doesn’t matter whichever team wins this clash as it could not bother the World Cup points table, yet it is an important fight for both the teams to end their campaign with a consolatory smile on their faces.
The Match starts at 3 pm (IST).
Here are the 15-member squads of both the teams:
Afghanistan: Rahmat Shah, Gulbadin Naib (captain), Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shinwari, Najibullah Zadran, Ikram Ali Khil (wicketkeeper), Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Hamid Hassan, Sayed Shirzad, Dawlat Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Noor Ali Zadran
West Indies: Chris Gayle, Sunil Ambris, Shai Hope (wicketkeeper), Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran, Jason Holder (captain), Carlos Brathwaite, Fabian Allen, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas, Shannon Gabriel, Darren Bravo, Ashley Nurse, Evin Lewis, Kemar Roach
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