Windies look to end group stage with 100% win record

They may have secured a semifinal slot with three straight victories but in-form West Indies would like to continue their winning ways when they face a spirited Afghanistan in their final group game of ICC World Twenty20 cricket tournament here on Sunday.

Afghanistan will hope that the Windies take it easy after making the knockouts and sign off with a consolation victory at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium at Jamtha.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy said his team would have a party after qualifying for the semi-finals with a nervy last over victory against South Africa. They are already eyeing their next week’s last-four match.

The Afghans, on the other hand, have won hearts in India with their spirited showing in the mega-event, giving tough competition to the other teams in their group, especially against England.

They gave South Africa a fright last weekend when they raced to 105 for two in pursuit of the Proteas’ total of 210, although they were ultimately beaten after a flurry of wickets.

“When we play more international matches then the improvement will come,” he said after the England match.

“The only thing is, we have to play more matches against these teams.”

Squads: West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Carlos Braithwaite, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Evin Lewis.

Afghanistan: Asghar Stanikzai (captain), Amir Hamza, Dawlat Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Hamid Hassan, Karim Sadiq, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Shahzad, Najibullah Zadran, Noor Ali Zadran, Rashid Khan, Samiullah Shenwari, Shafiqullah Shafiq, Shapoor Zadran, Usman Ghani.

Match starts at 3.30 pm (IST).