West Indies Revamp Squad, Bowl with T20I Series at Stake
In a crucial second T20I match against Afghanistan, the West Indies opted to bowl first after winning the toss. Captain Brandon King led his team into the game with the series on the line, as they were trailing 0-1 in the three-match series. Both teams are also using this series to prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7.
Changes in the West Indies Squad
The West Indies made notable adjustments to their lineup. They introduced left-arm seamer Ramon Simmonds and top-order batter Alick Athanaze into the team. This shift replaced Jayden Seales and Amir Jangoo, who were part of the squad in the first T20I.
Afghanistan’s Strategic Change
On the Afghan side, left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi was brought in to replace Ziaur Rahman. Ziaur had an impressive performance in the first match, taking three crucial wickets.
Match Highlights from First T20I
Afghanistan secured victory in the first T20I, defeating the West Indies by 38 runs. The standout performers for Afghanistan included Ibrahim Zadran, who scored an unbeaten 87 runs, and Darwish Rasooli, who contributed with 84 runs. In response, the West Indies managed to score only 143 runs, falling short of the target of 182.
Bowling Performance
- Ziaur Rahman took 3 wickets for Afghanistan.
- The spin trio of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Noor Ahmad each claimed 2 wickets.
Lineups for the Match
Here are the playing elevens for both teams:
| West Indies | Afghanistan |
|---|---|
| Brandon King (Capt) | Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) |
| Alick Athanaze | Ibrahim Zadran |
| Evin Lewis | Sediqullah Atal |
| Johnson Charles (wk) | Darwish Rasooli |
| Shimron Hetmyer | Mohammad Nabi |
| Quentin Sampson | Azmatullah Omarzai |
| Matthew Forde | Gulbadin Naib |
| Gudakesh Motie | Rashid Khan (Capt) |
| Khary Pierre | Noor Ahmad |
| Shamar Joseph | Fazalhaq Farooqi |
| Ramon Simmonds | Mujeeb Ur Rahman |
This match is pivotal for both teams, not just for securing the series but also for honing their skills ahead of the T20 World Cup. With both teams making strategic changes and the stakes high, the upcoming match promises to be an exciting encounter.
