Afghanistan will be looking to make a few upsets during the tournament despite being the lowest rank team in the tournament.
Ranked 10th on the ICC ODI rankings, Afghanistan come into the tournament as minnows. Only having gained test membership in 2017 they have played less cricket than any other team in the tournament. Having narrowly qualified for the World Cup as a result of UAE defeating Zimbabwe in the qualifiers, they went on to beat the West Indies in the final.
Recent Form: WLWLW
Last Completed ODI series: (Tied 1-1) vs Ireland
Best World Cup Finish: Group Stages (2015)
Predicted Finish: 10th
Fixtures:
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Batsman to Watch: Mohammed Shahzad
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Afghanistan has a relatively weak batting line-up compared to their bowling unit. Mohammed Shahzad has brought some stability scoring a century in each of the previous two ODI tours against Scotland and Ireland.
Bowler to Watch: Rashid Khan
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Since marking his ODI debut in 2015 vs Zimbabwe, Khan has climbed through the ODI rankings. The 20-year-old is 3rd and 2nd in the ODI bowling rankings and ODI All-Rounder bowling rankings. Although only 20 years old he has gained a lot of experience in T20 leagues around the world including the IPL in India, BBL in Australia and MSL in South Africa.
Afghanistan will begin their campaign in Bristol when they take on the defending champions Australia on June 1st.
