AFG vs NED: ODI series – 5 players to watch out for
Afghanistan and Netherlands are set to lock horns for a three-match ODI series in Doha, Qatar, starting with the first game on January 21. As the series begins today, here are five players to watch out for.
1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz
The wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who made his debut against Ireland in January 2021, announced himself in style as the 20-year-old became the first and the only Afghan player to smash a century on ODI debut. He scored 127 off 127 deliveries while opening the batting, hitting nine maximums to help his team post 287/9 as the Asian team won the game by 16 runs. He ended up the series with 180 runs in three matches.
2. Rahmat Shah
The third-highest run-getter for Afghanistan in ODIs slammed a century as well in the Ireland series in 2021, as the experienced batter amassed 103 runs in the second ODI to remain not out and win the match and the series for his team while chasing a target of 260 runs. The right-handed batter who has the second most (6) centuries for Afghanistan in the 50-overs format bats at the crucial no. three-position and will again be an important player and the one to watch out for in the three-match ODI series against the Dutch team.
3. Mujeeb ur Rahman
Mujeeb ur Rahman was the second-highest wicket-taker for Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup 2021 with seven scalps, and will be a vital cog along with his spinning partner Rashid Khan now that the veteran Mohammad Nabi has ruled himself out of the three-match series. His off-break bowling will come in handy against the slightly inexperienced batting line-up of the Netherlands.
4. Pieter Seelaar
The skipper of the Netherlands ODI side Pieter Seelaar has played the third-most number of matches for the Dutch side as the experienced campaigner made his debut in the 50-overs format way back in the year 2006. His presence and all-around abilities will be crucial for the relatively inexperienced Netherlands side which will face a tough challenge against Afghanistan in the middle east. With 54 wickets, Seelaar is the third-highest wicket-taker for his country in the one-day format.
5. Fred Klaassen
The left-arm medium-pacer Fred Klaassen, who made his debut against Nepal in June 2018, has taken 16 wickets in eight ODI matches at an average of 16.31 and an economy rate of just 3.43. The 29-years old seamer would be the one to watch out for in the series as his team will rely on him for picking up wickets against a strong-looking Afghanistan batting line-up. Klaassen was also a part of the T20 World Cup 2021 where the Dutch lost all three matches.
