Chennai, Feb 7 (NationPress) The clash between Afghanistan and New Zealand in the T20 World Cup is laden with history as they face off on Sunday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in the fourth match of the T20 World Cup 2026.

In 2024, the two teams battled it out in Guyana, where Afghanistan triumphed over New Zealand by 84 runs, marking a remarkable journey to the semi-finals for the Afghan side, while New Zealand faced a surprising early exit despite their strong reputation. Their only subsequent encounter was in 2016, and the excitement for this match is palpable, particularly with Group D being dubbed 'the group of death' alongside South Africa, making every match crucial.

New Zealand arrives aiming to put behind them a recent T20I series loss to India, where they fell short with a 4-1 defeat, raising concerns about their squad due to injuries and illness among players.

However, having played in India ahead of this match, New Zealand should be familiar with the conditions. With a solid batting lineup and formidable pace attack, they are poised to deliver a strong performance against Afghanistan. In contrast, Afghanistan enters this match brimming with confidence after winning six consecutive games before their loss to West Indies, armed with a potent spin attack that thrives in favorable conditions. Surprisingly, Afghanistan may be seen as the favorites in this matchup.

Squads:

New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi

Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Sediqullah Atal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Ishaq Rahimi, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi Reserves: AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmadzai, Farid Ahmad Malik

5th match: England Vs Nepal, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (3:00 PM IST)

England returns to Kolkata for their encounter against Nepal at the historic Eden Gardens. With a remarkable record of winning 10 out of their last 11 completed matches in this format, they possess a formidable batting lineup and a wealth of talented spin bowlers, positioning them well for the challenges ahead.

Nepal, however, is no longer a newcomer to the cricketing scene. Following a near-victory against South Africa during the 2024 T20 World Cup, they have grown into a seasoned and resilient team, shown by their successful seasons in the Nepal Premier League and strong qualifying performances leading to this tournament.

Under the leadership of Rohit Paudel and an aggressive bowling unit led by the exciting Karan KC, Nepal will approach their inaugural international match against England with enthusiasm and high hopes.

Squads:

Nepal: Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Sundeep Jora, Aarif Sheikh, Basir Ahamad, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Gulshan Jha, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sher Malla, Lokesh Bam

England: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood

6th match: Ireland Vs Sri Lanka, R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (7:00 PM IST)

Sri Lanka, once a dominant force in the T20 World Cup, now embarks on a mission to end their decade-long streak of not advancing past the quarter-finals as they host Ireland at home. Familiar with the conditions, they still face challenges, as captain Dasun Shanaka is concerned about slow pitches, and Sri Lanka's recent performance at R. Premadasa Stadium has been poor. A recent 3-0 sweep by England only adds to the uncertainty.

Ireland sees this as a prime opportunity. Although they struggled in 2024, they enter with renewed vigor after winning consecutive series against lesser opponents and having played in Dubai, where conditions may mirror those in Sri Lanka. Their chances of advancing depend heavily on upsetting either Sri Lanka or Australia, and this opening match may apply additional pressure on the hosts from the outset.

Squads:

Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga

Ireland: Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young

Where to view: Star Sports Networks and JioStar