Afghanistan and West Indies are ready to face each other in the 1st match of the 3-match T20 series at Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, on Monday, January 19. This match is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM IST (Local 6:30 PM). Stay tuned with our AFG vs WI prediction, team preview, pitch report, player stats and winner prediction ahead of this exciting contest.
There have always been exciting contest between Afghanistan and West Indies. On one hand, Afghanistan comes to the field with a good spin bowling attack, while the West Indies have always been seen to have big power-hitters in the squad, who like to play aggressively. Over the past few years, Afghanistan players have proven themselves at every level. They also produced quality spinners who are known for their impressive performances even against a good batting unit. Therefore, this three-match series will be important for both teams and can prove to be a good way to test their preparations before the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which is just a few weeks away from starting.
Head-to-Head Record: Till now, a total of 8 T20 matches have been played between these two sides, in which West Indies performed well and won 5 games, while Afghanistan has won 3. Moreover, the West Indies performed well recently as they won three of the last five head-to-head games against Afghanistan.
Afghanistan Preview
Afghanistan has performed well recently, defeating Qatar and Zimbabwe in their last two T20S series. However, they did not perform well against Bangladesh and in the Asia Cup 2025. Now, with Rashid Khan’s captaincy, Afghanistan currently looks like a good team capable of defeating the West Indies. So, fans will be hoping for a good performance from them in this series.
In batting, Rahmanullah Gurbaz has consistently performed brilliantly. He has scored 286 runs in the last nine matches at a strike rate of over 149. While, Ibrahim Zadran has also scored 259 runs in the last nine matches. This shows that Afghanistan has a good batting line-up. The team also has good all-rounders who can do well in both batting and bowling.
Afghanistan also has world-class bowlers, including captain Rashid Khan himself, who has taken 12 wickets in the last eight matches. Apart from him, Azmatullah Omarzai has also taken 11 wickets in the last eight matches. To support them, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad and Ziaur Rahman are also available there.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Over 26.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Rahmanullah Gurbaz has scored 286 runs in his last nine matches at a strike rate above 149. His aggressive approach at the top makes him Afghanistan’s key powerplay batter and a strong pick to cross this line again.
West Indies Preview
The West Indies has not performed so well over the past few years. They also did not perform well against New Zealand in their last series, where they won just one match in the five-match series. Moreover, many of their key players are currently unavailable due to their commitments in the different global leagues. Therefore, Captain Brandon King will have a big responsibility to make the team perform well.
In batting, captain Brandon King will have a big responsibility to give the team a good start from the top order. Apart from him, Alick Athanaze has been performing consistently well and has scored 189 runs in the last eight matches. Amir Jangoo has scored 141 runs in the last 5 games with an average of 47. Moreover, Shimron Hetmyer, Johnson Charles, and Keacy Carty have the ability to do well in batting.
West Indies will need to do well in their bowling if they want to win this match and the series. While their bowler, Jayden Seales, has performed well in the last few matches, the team will also have high expectations from Ramon Simmonds. Moreover, Gudakesh Motie also has the ability to perform well with his spin attack.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Alick Athanaze | Over 22.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Alick Athanaze has been consistent with 189 runs in his last eight matches. As one of West Indies’ most reliable top-order batters, he will be crucial at the top and is well placed to cross this mark again.
AFG vs WI Probably Playing XI
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Shahidulla, Rashid Khan (C), Mujeeb ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmed, Ziaur Rahman.
West Indies: Brandon King (C), Johnson Charles (WK), Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Shimron Hetmyer, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Springer, Justin Graves/Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales, Ramon Simmonds.
AFG vs WI Pitch Report
The pitch at Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, generally offers a balanced surface. It is a bit slow initially, which prevents high-scoring matches. Bowlers get help from the surface in the early overs. However, as the match progresses, the pitch becomes more batting-friendly. Captains who win the toss on this ground often choose to chase the target.
The weather on Monday at Dubai International Cricket Stadium is expected to be sunny, around 23°C, with 0% chance of rain, moderate 54% humidity and light winds near 4 m/s.
Venue T20I Statistics
| Stats | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 121 |
| Matches won batting first | 55 |
| Matches won bowling first | 64 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 140 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 123 |
| Highest total recorded | 212/2 (20 Ovs) – IND vs AFG |
| Lowest total recorded | 55/10 (14.2 Ovs) – WI vs ENG |
| Highest score chased | 184/8 (19.2 Ovs) – SL vs BAN |
| Lowest score defended | 98/5 (20 Ovs) – NAMW vs UAEW |
AFG vs WI Winner Prediction
The impressive performances that Afghanistan have put up over the years. And also known as being the second-best team in Asia. But their disappointing performances show that their young players are not yet able to handle the pressure of matches in international cricket. But still, due to their excellent bowling and good batting, they will be the favourites to win this match.
On the other hand, the West Indies’ performance has been in decline in the last few years. But in the T20 format, they are an unpredictable team that has the ability to beat any big team on their day. So, underestimating them could be a big mistake for Afghanistan.
Our Prediction: Afghanistan
ALSO READ: IND vs NZ 3rd ODI 2025: Match Preview, Probable XIs, Pitch Report and Winner Prediction
Code: TOPBK
