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Today’s NZ vs AFG match, World Cup 2023: Dream11 fantasy prediction and tips, playing XIs

by Wisden Staff October 17, 2023 - 7:54pm 2 minute read

New Zealand play Afghanistan at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on October 18 at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: here is the NZ vs AFG Dream11 fantasy preview, including tips and predictions for CWC Match 16.

CWC 2023: New Zealand vs Afghanistan match preview

New Zealand have won their first three games on the trot and are looking strong as ever. However, their skipper Kane Williamson simply can’t catch a break. Having returned to the playing XI in the last game, he was struck by a wayward throw and has now suffered a broken hand, ruling him out of the next few games. He will, however, continue to be with the squad. Thankfully for New Zealand, the form of Will Young and Rachin Ravindra at the top means they won’t have to worry about Williamson’s replacement.

Afghanistan are coming into this game on the back of a historic victory over England in Delhi a few nights back. Chennai will be another venue where they can employ their spin choke like they did in Delhi. They will, however, be up against better players of spin than England, and will be stretched to their limits.

NZ vs AFG fantasy tips

Mujeeb Ur Rahman was the Player of the Match in Afghanistan’s victory over England

# Devon Conway has a tremendous record in Chennai. From eight IPL innings at the venue earlier this year, he scored 390 runs at an average of 65 and a strike rate of 133.1. In the only ODI he has played here, he scored 45 off 59. He should be a lock in your team and your foremost captaincy choice.

# The Chennai surface will aid the spin trio of Afghanistan. All three of them were amongst the wickets in the last match against England. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have all of them in your team, particularly given how they contribute with the bat as well.

# Matt Henry has picked 10 wickets from his last four ODIs. He is in great wicket-taking form and should feature in your team.

# Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra should feature in your XI as well. Both provide solid left-arm spin options. Plus, Ravindra is in great form with the bat as well.

New Zealand vs Afghanistan: Predicted 11

New Zealand: Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c) (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult, Matt Henry.

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi.