Afghanistan and West Indies are ready to face each other in the 3rd match of their T20 International series at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, on Thursday, January 22, 2026. This match is scheduled to begin at 6:30 PM IST. Stay tuned with our AFG vs WI 3rd T20I prediction, team preview, pitch report, player stats and winner prediction ahead of this exciting contest.
Afghanistan had an amazing time in this T20I series so far as they won both the first two matches and took an unbeatable 2-0 lead. However, West Indies will be desperate to restore some honor and grab at least one win before their next tour to South Africa. This series is very important for both teams as they prepare for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will take place in India and Sri Lanka starting from February 2026.
Head-to-Head Record: Till now, a total of 10 T20I matches have been played between these two sides. Afghanistan has done well against West Indies and won 5 matches, while West Indies won 5 matches as well. However, in the ongoing series so far, Afghanistan has performed strongly and won both the matches they have played, showing complete domination over West Indies.
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Afghanistan Preview
Afghanistan made a dream start to the series with two very strong wins. In the first T20I, they put up a big total of 181/3, brilliant knock by captain Ibrahim Zadran, who led the team from the front. Darwish Rasooli gave him great support and together they built a huge partnership that completely changed the match. West Indies struggled in the chase and were never really in control, allowing Afghanistan to win comfortably.
The second T20I followed a similar story, with Afghanistan once again dominating with the bat. Darwish Rasooli continued his fine form, while Sediqullah Atal also played an important role in setting up a strong total. When West Indies came out to bat, they found it difficult to handle Afghanistan’s spin bowling and lost wickets regularly, which led to another convincing win for Afghanistan and sealed the series.
Afghanistan’s team looks very well balanced in this series. Rashid Khan continues to be the leader of their bowling attack, using his experience and clever variations to control the game. Ibrahim Zadran has shown great maturity as a leader and batter, while Rasooli’s consistency in both matches has been one of the biggest positives for the team so far.
The spin department has been Afghanistan’s biggest strength, with Mujeeb Ur Rahman delivering match-winning performances. He played a key role in both games and completely turned the second match in Afghanistan’s favor. Along with contributions from players like Sediqullah Atal and Azmatullah Omarzai, Afghanistan have shown that they are a confident, settled unit and a serious force in T20 cricket.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Darwish Rasooli | Over 27.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Darwish Rasooli has been in excellent form throughout the series and played key roles in both wins. His consistency and composure in the middle order make him a strong batting pick to cross this line again.
West Indies Preview
West Indies have struggled badly in this series so far. In the first T20I, they were kept to 143 for 9 and never really looked in control while chasing. Newcomer Quentin Sampson showed some promise on debut with 30 runs, but the rest of the batting failed to support him. Captain Brandon King was dismissed early by Mujeeb, and the team went on to lose the match by 38 runs.
In the second T20I, West Indies showed some improvement but still could not match Afghanistan’s level. Brandon King bounced back with a half-century, and Shimron Hetmyer added 46 runs, giving the team some hope. However, once again, the batting lineup struggled against spin, especially Mujeeb’s sharp bowling. Chasing a big total, West Indies were bowled out for 150 and lost by 39 runs.
West Indies have brought a young and fairly balanced squad for this series. Brandon King leads the side and opens the batting. He has played 73 T20I matches and scored 1,704 runs, but his form has been mixed in this series so far. Shimron Hetmyer remains a key middle-order batter who can change the game with his power hitting. Quentin Sampson, coming in from the CPL, has shown early signs of potential and will look to build on his debut performance.
The bowling unit has also found things difficult. Pacers like Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph, and Matthew Forde have leaked runs and struggled to contain Afghanistan’s batters. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie is one of the few bowlers who has the control to trouble batters and could play an important role going forward. Overall, West Indies need a big improvement in both batting and bowling if they want to bounce back in this series.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Brandon King | Over 24.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Brandon King showed signs of form with a half-century in the second T20I. As captain and opener, he remains West Indies’ best chance to provide a solid start and is well placed to cross this line again.
AFG vs WI Probably Playing XI
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan(C), Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
West Indies: Brandon King(C), Alick Athanaze, Evin Lewis, Johnson Charles(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Quentin Sampson, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Khary Pierre, Shamar Joseph, Ramon Simmonds.
AFG vs WI Pitch Report
The pitch at Dubai International Stadium usually offers a balanced surface. It can be a little slow at the start, which helps bowlers and makes scoring difficult in the early overs. As the match goes on, batting becomes easier, as seen in the last game where Afghanistan scored heavily. Fast bowlers can get some help early, while spinners come into play later in the innings. Dew can also help the chasing team, which is why captains often prefer to bowl first at this venue.
The weather on Thursday at Dubai International Cricket Stadium is expected to be sunny, around 20°C with 0% chance of rain, low 31% humidity, and breezy winds near 26 km/h.
Venue T20I Statistics
| Stats | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 122 |
| Matches won batting first | 56 |
| Matches won bowling first | 64 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 141 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 124 |
| 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
There has always been strong competition between these two teams, but in this series Afghanistan have clearly been the better side. They have won both matches comfortably and shown better form in all areas. Afghanistan’s batters have played with confidence, while their spin bowling has caused serious problems for West Indies, who have struggled to settle and respond under pressure.
On the other hand, West Indies have not been at their best and have found it hard to handle Afghanistan’s bowling. While they do have talented players and will want to end the series on a positive note, Afghanistan carry strong momentum into this match. With better balance, confidence and form, Afghanistan are the favourites and are expected to win the third T20I and complete a clean sweep.
Our Prediction: Afghanistan
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