NZ vs AFG T20 Live Score (New Zealand national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team scorecard): New Zealand face Afghanistan in their T20 World Cup 2026 opener at Chepauk Stadium in Chennai.
New Zealand vs Afghanistan Live Score & Updates: New Zealand are all set to take on Afghanistan in their opening Group D match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday. The Kiwis are looking for revenge after a shocking defeat to Afghanistan in the last T20 World Cup.
Afghanistan, on the other hand, will be high with confidence after a string of recent wins and will be keen to continue their momentum.
The last time these two sides met in a T20 World Cup group stage, Afghanistan handed New Zealand a heavy defeat. Rahmanulla Gurbaz’s brilliant 80 off 56 balls helped Afghanistan post 159/6, and Rashid Khan along with Fazalhaq Farooqi tore through the Kiwi batting lineup, bowling them out for just 75.
This time around, New Zealand would want revenge, but there are a few concerns. Their squad is depleted after a 4-1 series loss to India, with Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway sidelined due to illness. Finn Allen is out with a shoulder injury, while Michael Bracewell and Lockie Ferguson are also suffering from injuries.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, will be confident. They won six consecutive T20 matches before a 15-run loss to West Indies in Dubai last month.
New Zealand vs Afghanistan: Squads
Afghanistan Squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Ishaq, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, Abdullah Ahmadzai
New Zealand Squad: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy, James Neesham, Matt Henry, Devon Conway, Mark Chapman