Match: Afghanistan v Oman
Date: 20 January, Friday
Time: 2pm SGT/11:30am IST/6am GMT
Competition: Desert T20
Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium
TV Channel: There is no live TV coverage in Singapore.
Live updates can be found on tournament's official Twitter handle, UAE Cricket handle
Overview
Afghanistan have looked unstoppable in the inaugural edition of the ongoing Desert T20 tournament and have finished the group stages with a perfect record - three wins from as many matches.
On Thursday, Asghar Stanikzai's men made light work of the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, Nambia, by 64 runs to prepare for what might be a gruelling day on Friday, where the Men in Blue might have to play two matches, provided they win the semi-final.
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Nawroz Mangal, who had retired earlier this year, was included in the playing XI for the match as Afghanistan had already sealed a spot in the last-four. Pacers Dawlat Zadran and Fareed Ahmed were rested for the clash and the impressive duo will be fresh and will combine with Rashid Khan, who scalped three wickets on Thursday, to form a lethal fast-bowling attack.
The number nine-ranked team are looking clear favourites to clinch their semi-final tie on Friday. Notably, Oman have never beaten Afghanistan in their short T20 history so far and the only time the two teams met (at UAE in 2015), Afghanistan whitewashed their opposition 2-0 in a T20I series.
Duleep Mendis-coached side opened their tournament with a crushing five-wicket defeat to Netherlands but clinched a seven-wicket win after bowling out Hong Kong for 81 in their second match, which had massively boosted their Net Run Rate.
Despite losing their last game against Scotland by seven wickets on Thursday, Oman, who were tied with Hong Kong and Netherlands with two points each, were able to make the semi-final and the underdogs should be proud of their achievement. However, they need to punch above their weight if they are to stand a chance against the in-form Afghanistani unit.
Team News
Afghanistan
Possible XI: Asghar Stanikzai (c), Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Nawroz Mangal, Samiullah Shenwari, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Najibullah Zardan, Rashid Khan, Amir Hamza, Dawlat Zardan, Fareed Ahmad
Oman
Possible XI: Sultan Ahmed (c & wk), Arun Poulose, Zeeshan Maqsood, Aqib Ilyas, Khawar Ali, Ajay Lalcheta, Khurram Nawaz, Naseem Khushi, Bilal Khan, Kaleemullah, Mohammad Nadeem
