Kuwait vs Qatar: Kuwait will face Qatar in the ninth match of the Gulf Cricket T20I Championship at the ICC Academy in Dubai.  Kuwait has had a mixed start with one win and two losses, while Qatar is still searching for their first victory, having lost both of their previous matches. This contest is crucial for both sides as they aim to improve their standings in the tournament.

Head-to-Head

• Overall:
  • Kuwait: 4 wins
  • Qatar: 4 wins
  • Tied: 1
  • No Result: 0
  • Win Percentage:
    • Kuwait: 44.44%
    • Qatar: 44.44%

The last five matches between the two teams have been closely contested, with both sides winning two games each and one match tied.

Last Five Meetings

1. 02-Oct-2023: Kuwait won by 5 wickets (with 23 balls remaining)
2. 28-Sep-2023: Kuwait won by 7 wickets (with 26 balls remaining)
3. 18-Sep-2023: Qatar won by 1 run
4. 29-Oct-2021: Qatar won by 2 wickets (with 49 balls remaining)
5. 26-Jul-2019: Kuwait won by 10 runs

Recent Performance

• Kuwait:
  • L (8th Match, December 16, 2024) vs U.A.E.: U.A.E. won by 11 runs
  • NR (3rd Match, December 14, 2024) vs Bahrain: Match abandoned due to rain
  • W (2nd Match, December 13, 2024) vs Saudi Arabia: Kuwait won by 6 wickets
  • L (17th Match, September 6, 2024) vs Singapore: Singapore won by 5 wickets
  • L (21st Match, September 9, 2024) vs Hong Kong: No result
• Qatar:
  • L (6th Match, December 15, 2024) vs Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia won by 9 wickets
  • L (4th Match, December 14, 2024) vs Oman: Oman won by 35 runs

Form Guide

• Kuwait: L, NR, W, L, L
• Qatar: W, L, W, L, L

Kuwait has shown glimpses of promise with a win against Saudi Arabia but has struggled to maintain consistency. Qatar, on the other hand, is yet to find their rhythm, having lost both their matches so far.

Standings

• 1st: United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) – 6 points, NRR +1.060
• 2nd: Bahrain – 4 points, NRR +0.276
• 3rd: Oman – 2 points, NRR +0.275
• 4th: Kuwait – 2 points, NRR +0.205
• 5th: Saudi Arabia – 2 points, NRR -0.626
• 6th: Qatar – 0 points, NRR -1.867

Kuwait vs Qatar Lineups

Kuwait Predicted XI:

• Ravija Sandaruwan, Clinto Anto, Usman Patel (wk), Meet Bhavsar, Mohammed Aslam (c), Yasin Patel, Muhammad Umar, Bilal Tahir, Sayed Monib, Mohamed Shafeeq, Mirza Ahmed

Qatar Predicted XI:

• Imal Liyanage (wk), Saqlain Arshad, Mohammad Ahnaff, Mohammed Rizlan (c), Muhammad Tanveer, Muhammad Asim, Mohammed Nadeem, Mujeeb ur Rehman, Mohammad Ikramullah Khan, Muhammad Jabir, Amir Farooq

Key Players to Watch

• Kuwait:
  • Ravija Sandaruwan: A key batsman with a solid average and strike rate, he’ll be crucial to Kuwait’s chances.
  • Yasin Patel: A leading bowler who can break partnerships and put pressure on the opposition.
  • Mohammed Aslam: The experienced captain, who will need to lead by example both with the bat and as a bowler.
• Qatar:
  • Muhammad Tanveer: A top-order batsman in good form, scoring consistently across the matches.
  • Ikramullah Khan: A reliable bowler who can pick crucial wickets and contain the run flow.
  • Amir Farooq: The experienced bowler with the ability to provide breakthroughs at crucial times.

Kuwait vs Qatar Prediction

Kuwait, with a more balanced team and home advantage, will start as favorites to win this contest. Qatar will need to address their batting weaknesses and find a way to break Kuwait’s middle order to turn their fortunes around in this crucial encounter. Expect a closely fought contest with Kuwait edging out Qatar.

Prediction: Kuwait to win.

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