• Match: Afghanistan vs Papua New Guinea, 29th Match, ICC T20 World Cup 2024
• Date and Time: June 13,  12:30 am GMT( June 14 ) / 06:00 am IST( June 14 ) / 08:30 pm local time
• Venue: Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad

Afghanistan has made remarkable strides in recent major tournaments, positioning themselves as strong contenders for the 2024 T20 World Cup. With two dominant victories at the start of their campaign, they aim to maintain their momentum. Their opening partnerships, especially led by Rahmanullah Gurbaz, have been stellar. Gurbaz has scored an impressive 116 runs in his last two innings, setting a solid foundation for Afghanistan’s triumphs over Uganda and New Zealand.

In the bowling department, Fazalhaq Farooqi has been exceptional, taking nine wickets in his last two matches. Rashid Khan’s world-class performance against New Zealand, where he claimed four wickets in four overs, further bolsters Afghanistan’s formidable bowling attack. However, there is intense competition among Afghanistan’s talented bowlers.

While stars like Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Fazalhaq Farooqi have made headlines, Afghanistan has consistently posted scores exceeding 150 runs in both their innings.

Conversely, Papua New Guinea faces significant challenges in their quest for Super 8 qualification. Having never reached the T20 World Cup finals before, the 2024 edition presents a crucial opportunity for them. Their struggles were highlighted when they were bowled out for just 77 runs against Uganda, signaling a tough journey ahead.

Despite Sese Bau’s impressive half-century against the West Indies, many players failed to perform against Uganda. Given the low expectations for both their batting and bowling line-ups, Papua New Guinea may find themselves at the bottom of Group C based on current performances.

Assad Vala stands out as one of Papua New Guinea’s most reliable players. His strong performance against the West Indies, contributing 21 runs and taking two wickets, underscores his potential impact on the team.

Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Papua New Guinea: Assad Vala (c), Tony Ura, Sese Bau, Lega Siaka, Hiri Hiri, Charles Amini, Kiplin Doriga (wk), Alei Nao, Chad Soper, Kabua Morea, John Kariko.

Who will win the toss? – Afghanistan
Who will win the match? – Afghanistan

Captain: Fazalhaq Farooqi
Vice-Captain: Rashid Khan

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Assad Vala, Azmatullah Omarzai, Naveen-ul-Haq, Chad Soper, Alei Nao.

The surface at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy generally favors batsmen, making it conducive to high-scoring games. Given these conditions, the team winning the toss is likely to choose to bat first.

This venue, located in Trinidad and Tobago, is set to host the initial matches of the group stages, including Group C matches, and one of the semifinals. The Brian Lara Cricket Academy has been the stage for some thrilling T20 cricket encounters. With an average first innings score of 184, it is known for producing high-scoring matches.

With rain predicted in the days leading up to the match, the pitch at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy may present opportunities for both spinners and seamers to exploit. The consistent bounce expected on this surface should also benefit batsmen, helping them post substantial runs on the board.

• Stadium: Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba

• City: Trinidad

• Capacity: 15, 000