● Afghanistan have won two and lost three of their last five matches against Ireland in men’s T20Is, they had lost only three of their 15 matches against Ireland prior in the format (W11 T1).
● Afghanistan have lost their last four men’s T20I matches, it is their longest losing streak in the format; all their last four opponents are ranked higher than them in the ICC men’s T20 rankings, while Ireland is ranked two places below Afghanistan at 12.
● Ireland have already won three of their five matches in this edition of the ICC men’s T20 World Cup, their highest tally in a single edition of the competition; they had won two matches in the 2014 edition.
● This will be the second men’s T20I match for Ireland at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, they won their previous match against England on 26 October 2022; this will be the first match for Afghanistan at this venue.
● Only India (74%) have a poorer catch success percentage in men’s T20I during 2022 than Afghanistan (78%) amongst full member sides of the ICC, Afghanistan have dropped 17 of their 76 chances in the format.
● A win on Friday would equal Afghanistan’s record of the second most wins in a calendar year (2015 – 9 wins & 2016 – 11 wins), they have eight wins from their 16 matches in 2022 (L8).
● Hazratullah Zazai needs 33 more to score 1,000 runs for Afghanistan in men’s T20I cricket, in doing so he will become the sixth player to reach the milestone for the country.
● Mujeeb Ur Rahman needs four more for 50 wickets for Afghanistan in men’s T20I cricket, in doing so he will become third player to reach the milestone for Afghanistan; he has taken four or more wickets twice in his international T20I career.
● Harry Tector is set to make his 50th appearance for Ireland in men’s T20I cricket, in doing so he will become the 12th player to feature in as many matches for the country.
● Paul Stirling has top scored on 10 occasions for Ireland in men’s T20I since the beginning of 2020, the highest by a player for Ireland and one more than Andrew Balbirnie.