AFG vs IRE Today Match Prediction- Only Test, Who Will Win Today’s Test Match? 2024

The AFG vs IRE-only Test will be played in Abu Dhabi from February 28 to March 3. The Test match starts at 11.30 am IST. This is the second Test match between the two sides. Both teams played the last Test in 2019.

The two teams have played just one Test, 30 ODIs, and 23 T20Is overall in T20I cricket. Out of those games maximum games across formats have been won by Afghanistan. They have dominated the Irish side across formats in the last decade having played few and far between. 

Afghanistan will be led by Hasmatullah Shahidi who did not play the last Test match against Sri Lanka. The Afghans have played 8 Test matches in total. In 2023 they have played against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka having lost both those games. 

Team Analysis

Afghanistan 

They are looking to get back into winning ways in Test cricket. Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been selected in the Test side. He has made a name for himself in white-ball cricket, particularly in T20I cricket.

The Afghans will be playing five more Test matches this year after the one against Ireland. Rashid Khan has been absent from international cricket since his lower back surgery. 

Ireland

Ireland played their last Test match against England in 2023. In 2023, they played against Sri Lanka and England losing both the games. The side will be led by Andrew Balbirnie who is their Test skipper.

The side has pretty much the same players playing all three formats for the side. No specialist Ireland player plays only one format. Heading into this Tets match, Ireland are placed 12th in the ICC Test rankings and Afghanistan 11th. 

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Key Factors 

Pitch Conditions 

This is the first-ever Test match to be played at the Tolerance Oval, in Abu Dhabi. The venue has hosted 19 T20Is mostly matches of the associate nations and UAE. The average first-inning score in those games is around 130.

However, this being a Test match, the pitch is expected to be a batting-friendly one with spin expected to be the dominant factor. How soon the ball turns on the pitch will be an exciting observation. Whether the teams persist for all five days will be another interesting thing to watch out for. 

Form and Fitness 

Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been drafted into the Test side. He is an explosive white-ball batter but was not in good form in the recent white-ball series against Sri Lanka. Fitness-wise, Rashid Khan is out of the team as he is yet to get fit completely from his lower back surgery. 

The Irish team has no fitness concerns. For them, it will be about the senior players in the team stepping up in this one-off Test match. Ireland are yet to rise the tanks in Test cricket as is Afghanistan. 

Tactical Acumen

Both captains are pretty fresh and inexperienced in leading a Test side. Their tactical acumen as captain will depend on choosing an XI that is for the five days of the Test match with enough options available with both bat and ball. It will be interesting to see how Afghanistan counters Rashid Khan’s absence. 

AFG vs IRE Scores Prediction

Recent Venue Records (Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi)

Who Will Score Most Runs For Afghanistan: Rahmaullah Gurbaz / Ibrahim Zadran 

Who Will Take Most Wickets For Afghanistan: Khalil Gurbaz / Zia-ur-Rehman

Who Will Score Most Runs For Ireland: Paul Stirling / Harry Tector 

Who Will Take Most Wickets For Ireland: George Dockrell / Mark Adair

AFG vs IRE Today Match Prediction- Only Test, Who Will Win Today’s Test Match? 2024

Afghanistan won the previous Test match between the two sides back in 2018 and is expected to win this Test match as well due to the conditions they are playing in.

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