Afghanistan will take on Scotland in a T20 World Cup warm-up match on February 2, 2026, at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru. This is the first of two warm-up matches for both sides ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which begins on February 7.
Afghanistan will treat this as a tune-up game after their recent T20I series against the West Indies. Scotland, which replaced Bangladesh as a late entrant to the tournament, will look to settle quickly and find their rhythm in Indian conditions. With the World Cup just days away, both teams will want to test their combinations and build confidence for the main event.
Afghanistan vs Scotland Match Preview
Bengaluru will host this warm-up match at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. The game starts at 3:00 PM IST.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Afghanistan vs Scotland, T20 World Cup Warm-up |
| Date | 02 February 2026 |
| Time | 3:00 PM IST / 9:30 AM GMT |
| Venue | BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1, Bengaluru |
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Warm-up Matches |
Pitch Report
The BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru has multiple pitch options with different soil types. The red soil track offers good pace and bounce, which helps stroke-makers who time the ball well. Fast bowlers can extract carry in the powerplay, while spinners find grip and turn as the innings progresses. A score in the range of 160 to 180 should be competitive in T20 conditions here.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | True batting surface with pace and bounce on red soil tracks |
| Average 1st Innings Score | Around 160 to 180 in T20 conditions |
| Pace vs Spin | Pacers get an early carry, spinners grip and turn in the middle overs |
| Toss Factor | Teams batting first can set a strong total on a fresh track |
Weather Report
Bengaluru in early February stays warm and dry. The afternoon temperature should be around 28°C, which is comfortable for a full game. Rain is highly unlikely at this time of year, so no interruptions are expected.
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 28°C at match time |
| Sky | Clear to partly cloudy |
| Rain Chance | Very low |
| Overall | Warm and dry, ideal conditions for a full match |
Toss Prediction
This is an afternoon game in Bengaluru, and dew could play a part in the second innings once the sun dips. Captains may prefer to bowl first to take advantage of any moisture under the lights later. However, batting first on a fresh track also has its rewards if the top order fires and posts a big total. Both options stay open, but chasing could have a slight edge here.
Injury Updates
Afghanistan: Naveen-ul-Haq has been ruled out of the entire T20 World Cup campaign with a stress fracture in his right shoulder. He will undergo surgery in the UK. Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi has replaced him in the squad. The rest of the Afghan squad is fit and available for selection.
Scotland: No major injury concerns have been reported. All 15 squad members are now available, as their visas have been processed. Both Safyaan Sharif and Zainullah Ihsan have arrived in India and trained with the squad in Bengaluru.
Dream11 Team For Afghanistan vs Scotland
Afghanistan vs Scotland Head-to-Head Records In T20Is
Afghanistan holds a perfect record against Scotland in T20Is. In seven meetings, Afghanistan has won all seven. Scotland has yet to beat Afghanistan in the shortest format. The margin of victory has ranged from close contests to complete dominance, underscoring the strength of Afghanistan’s spin and batting in this matchup.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total T20I Matches | 7 |
| Afghanistan Wins | 7 |
| Scotland Wins | 0 |
| Last 5 Matches | Afghanistan leads 5 to 0 |
Last Five Matches
- Afghanistan won by 17 runs, 16-Nov-2013
- Afghanistan won by 14 runs, 12-Jul-2015
- Afghanistan won by 14 runs, 08-Mar-2016
- Afghanistan won by 130 runs, 25-Oct-2021
- Afghanistan won by 55 runs, 31-May-2024
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Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Team | Role | Key Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | AFG | Opener/WK | Top run-scorer for Afghanistan in T20Is, explosive in the powerplay |
| Rashid Khan | AFG | Bowler/Captain | World-class leg-spinner, picks wickets in every phase of the game |
| George Munsey | SCO | Opener | Scotland’s most aggressive batter can take on any bowling attack early |
| Brandon McMullen | SCO | All-rounder | Hard-hitting middle order batter, handy with the ball too |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | AFG | Bowler | Left-arm quick who swings the new ball, a real threat in the powerplay |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | AFG | All-rounder | Scores quick runs in the middle order and bowls tight overs, a strong captain’s pick |
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