T20 World Cup 2022: Australia and Afghanistan to play in T20Is for first time

Two teams who have played so many T20Is and been a part of so many international games have never been up against each other in the format. Can you believe that? As shocking as it sounds, that actually is true! The reigning world champions Australia have never faced Afghanistan in the T20Is to date, and their contest at the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 will be a first.

The two teams first faced each other in an ODI back in 2012 and played an ODI match at Sharjah in UAE. Their next two meetings were at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups. Notably, at all three meetings so far, Australia has emerged victorious. Interestingly, this will be the first time ever that Australia and Afghanistan lock horns in the T20Is and their game is scheduled for November 4, 2022.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 is set to begin on October 16 where eight teams will compete in the First Round games, which will be followed by the Super 12 games starting October 22. Afghanistan and Australia have both confirmed their berth in the Super 12 and are a part of Group 1 alongside England and New Zealand.

Teams gear up for the marquee event

Afghanistan’s last outing was the Asia Cup 2022, where they finished last in the Super Four stage. The Mohammad Nabi-led side entered the Super Fours in a stylish manner as Afghanistan defeated Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to move further. But they could not bag a single victory thereafter and lost the contests against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and India.

Australia, on the other hand, recently played India in a three-match T20I series in India, but unfortunately lost it 1-2 after winning the first game and losing the next two. They’re currently hosting West Indies for a couple of T20Is before taking on England for a three-match T20I series, which will be followed by their warm-up fixtures of the T20 World Cup 2022.