AFG vs WI Stats Preview- 1st T20I, Afghanistan vs West Indies in UAE 2026

AFG vs WI Stats Preview. [Source - AFP]

Afghanistan and West Indies will face off in the first T20I of the three-match series on Monday, January 19th. The enthralling contest will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM IST.

AFG vs WI 1st T20I preview, 2026

Afghanistan

Afghanistan boast a formidable and well-balanced T20I side to take on the West Indies. While the absence of frontline pacer Naveen-ul-Haq is a concern, the squad looks strong enough to challenge the opposition, get the best combinations, and build momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.

West Indies

West Indies are eyeing a fresh start ahead of 2026 after a below-average 2025. With several first-choice players absent, the series offers an opportunity to test alternate line-ups, rebuild confidence, and still showcase enough firepower across all departments while shaping well for the upcoming marquee event in India and Sri Lanka.

Top run scorers in AFG vs WI T20Is

We are considering only the players from the current squad.

Evin Lewis - 176 runs

Evin Lewis tops Afghanistan vs West Indies T20Is with 176 runs in seven innings, with a highest score of 68.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz - 94 runs

Rahmanullah Gurbaz features in this list for Afghanistan, scoring 94 runs in four appearances in this fixture at a strike rate of 138.23.

Mohammad Nabi - 83 runs

Mohammad Nabi sits third on the list with 83 runs in eight innings in Afghanistan vs West Indies T20Is.

Top wicket-takers in AFG vs WI T20Is

We are considering only the players from the current squad.

Gulbadin Naib - 8 wickets

Gulbadin Naib leads the wicket-takers list in Afghanistan vs West Indies T20Is with eight wickets in six innings, averaging an impressive 13.75 and striking every 12.2 balls.

Rashid Khan - 7 wickets

Rashid Khan sits second with 7 wickets in eight appearances at an economy of 6.38 against West Indies, with best figures of 2/26.

Mohammad Nabi - 4 wickets

Mohammad Nabi completes the list with four wickets in Afghanistan vs West Indies T20Is, maintaining an economy rate of 8.

AFG vs WI key stats

Afghanistan key records

• Afghanistan have won two of their last three T20Is vs West Indies.
• Afghanistan have won 3 of their last five T20Is in Dubai.
• Mohammad Nabi is Afghanistan’s highest T20I wicket-taker in Dubai - 13 wickets, 21.3 average and 17.2 SR.
• Ibrahim Zadran was Afghanistan’s highest T20I run-scorer in 2025 - 453 runs. 34.84 average and 5 50s.
• Rashid Khan has 24 wickets at 17.12 average and 5.45 economy in all T20s he has played in Dubai.
• Rashid Khan was undoubtedly Afghanistan’s best T20I bowler in 2025 - 21 wickets at 12.85 average and 12.8 strike-rate.
• Rahmanullah Gurbaz in all T20s in Dubai - 300 runs, 18.75 average and 151.51 strike-rate.

West Indies key records

• West Indies have won five of the 8 T20Is they have played vs Afghanistan.
• West Indies have lost each of the 4 T20Is they have played in Dubai.
• Shimron Hetmyer in all T20s in Dubai - 492 runs, 23.42 average and 130.5 strike-rate.
• Shimron Hetmyer was striking at 195.4 strike-rate, scoring 170 runs for WI in T20Is in 2025.
• Evin Lewis has been in top form as well with 139 runs in 4 innings in 2025 at 187.83 strike-rate for WI.

AFG vs WI key records which could be broken in 1st T20I, 2026

• Johnson Charles is 32 runs away from 1500 T20I runs.
• Gulbadin Naib is 14 runs away from 1000 T20I runs.