Afghanistan, once considered underdogs in the cricketing world, has made a remarkable turnaround in the ongoing World Cup. 

In their previous World Cup appearances, they managed just one victory back in 2015. However, this time around, they've pulled off impressive wins against three former World Cup champions. 

Now, they have set their sights on a crucial match against the Netherlands, with hopes of securing two vital points and intensifying their push for a spot in the semi-finals.

The familiarity of Lucknow's cricket ground has proven advantageous for Afghanistan, having played there in 2019 when they faced West Indies in a series of matches. 

While they struggled in the ODIs at that time, the experience might give them an edge in the upcoming contest. One of Afghanistan's key achievements in this tournament is addressing their batting issues.

 Previously overly dependent on the top order for runs, their middle order has stepped up, with players like Hashmatullah Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai hitting form. Moreover, the fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi's recent four-wicket haul against Sri Lanka demonstrated that Afghanistan's bowling attack goes beyond spin.

What sets Afghanistan apart is their clinical performance, a departure from the unpredictability often associated with underdogs. They convincingly defeated England, and their calm chase against Pakistan and Sri Lanka showcased their prowess on the global stage. 

Another victory would place them at eight points, on par with Australia and New Zealand, who are currently in the third and fourth positions.

The Netherlands, however, are also in the race and have plenty at stake. While their chances of reaching the semi-finals are slim, they have a genuine opportunity to qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy by finishing in the top eight at this World Cup. 

A win against Afghanistan would put them four points ahead of the teams trailing behind (Bangladesh and England).

The Netherlands have had their moments of glory in this tournament, including an impressive victory against South Africa. However, their batting lineup has often lacked firepower, with only one instance of scoring 250 or more in this high-scoring competition. 

They've relied on their middle and lower order to bail them out on several occasions. Facing Afghanistan's formidable bowling attack, which extends beyond the exceptional Rashid Khan, presents a significant challenge for the Dutch team.

Afghanistan vs Netherlands Live Stream TV Channels

The viewers can watch Afghanistan vs Netherlands Live Stream in Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3 and many other networks.

Star Sports Network India is the official broadcaster of the 2023 Cricket World Cup, it sheduled to air the tournament on Star Sports and OTT platform Disney+ Hotstar in India.The list below is showing the broadcasters by County or Territory.

The broadcasting rights for the upcoming event are held by various networks across different territories. Here’s a consolidated view of Afghanistan vs Netherlands Live Stream TV Channels:

Afghanistan: RTA Sports and Ariana TV.

Australia: Foxtel TV, Kayo TV, and Nine Network.

Bangladesh: Gazi TV, T Sports, and BTV.

Canada: Willow TV.

Continental Europe: Yupp TV.

Caribbean Islands: ESPN.

England: Sky Sports Cricket.

Hong Kong: Astro Vinmeen HD and Yupp TV.

India: Star Sports Network and DD Sports.

Central East and North Africa: Etisalat and Starzplday.

New Zealand: Sky Sports and Sky Sports 3.

Nepal: Star Sports Network.

Pakistan: A Sports and PTV Sports.

Pacific Islands: TVWAN Action PAC.

Sri Lanka: Sirasa TV (TV1) and Star Sports Network.

South Africa: SuperSports.

South East Asia: Yupp TV.

Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSports.

Singapore: Astro Vinmeen HD.

United States: Willow TV and Willow TV Xtra.

United Kingdom: Sky Sports Cricket.

Team News

In terms of team news, Afghanistan's Ikram Alikhil, who suffered a finger injury against Sri Lanka, is available for selection. 

With the Lucknow pitch likely to favor spin, they may consider bringing in Noor Ahmad for Naveen-ul-Haq, especially given Noor's impressive performance with three wickets against Pakistan. The Afghan lineup could look like this: 

1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz

2. Ibrahim Zadran

3. Rahmat Shah

4. Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt)

5. Azmatullah Omarzai

6. Ikram Alikhil (wk)/Najibullah Zadran

7. Mohammad Nabi

8. Rashid Khan

9. Mujeeb Ur Rahman

10. Naveen-ul-Haq/Noor Ahmad

11. Fazalhaq Farooqi

On the other hand, the Netherlands are unlikely to make any changes to their XI following their win against Bangladesh. Their possible lineup is as follows:

1. Max O'Dowd

2. Vikramjit Singh

3. Wesley Barresi

4. Colin Ackermann

5. Scott Edwards (capt & wk)

6. Bas de Leede

7. Sybrand Engelbrecht

8. Logan van Beek

9. Shariz Ahmad

10. Aryan Dutt

11. Paul van Meekeren