ECI Austria-Belgium, 2025: AUT vs BEL – Match 2 Preview
Event: ECI Austria-Belgium, 2025
Match: Austria (AUT) vs Belgium (BEL), Single Group Match Day 1, Match 2
Date: 22 August 2025
Start Time: 12:15 Local Time | 14:45 IST
Venue: Cricket Club Velden 91
Format: T10
Match Type: Group Match
Toss: Austria won the toss and elected to field
Spotlight on the Stars: Who Will Shine Brightest?
As the ECI Austria-Belgium, 2025 gets underway, all eyes turn to Cricket Club Velden 91 for a high-octane T10 clash between Austria and Belgium. With Austria opting to field first, the stage is set for a contest where every ball counts and every player’s impact is magnified.
Predicted Standouts
Most Sixes:
Karanbir Singh (AUT) and Bilal Zalmai (AUT) both average an impressive 2 sixes per match, making them prime candidates to clear the ropes most frequently.Most Runs:
Karanbir Singh (AUT) and Bilal Zalmai (AUT) also lead with a career average of 27 runs per match, setting the benchmark for run-scoring potential.Most Wickets:
Bilal Zalmai (AUT), Iftikhar Kankhel (BEL), and Rafiullah Alokzai (BEL) each average 1 wicket per match, making them the bowlers to watch for breakthroughs.Match MVP:
Bilal Zalmai (AUT) boasts the highest average fantasy points per match (95), making them the frontrunner for the MVP title.
Team Overviews
Austria (AUT)
- Matches Played: 84
- Matches Won: 51
- Win Percentage: 60.7%
- Strongest Player (Career Fantasy Avg): Bilal Zalmai (95 points/match)
- Strongest Player (Current Event): No event data yet
- Top Six-Hitter: Karanbir Singh (159 career sixes)
- Top Wicket-Taker: Sahel Zadran (career bowling points: 1884)
Austria enters this contest with a formidable record and a balanced squad. Their all-rounders and power hitters are well-suited to the T10 format, and their bowling attack is both experienced and versatile.
Belgium (BEL)
- Matches Played: 70
- Matches Won: 42
- Win Percentage: 60%
- Strongest Player (Career Fantasy Avg): Rafiullah Alokzai (51 points/match)
- Strongest Player (Current Event): No event data yet
- Top Six-Hitter: Sherry Butt (133 career sixes)
- Top Wicket-Taker: Iftikhar Kankhel (career bowling points: 727)
Belgium matches Austria’s win percentage and brings a dynamic mix of all-rounders and specialist batters. Their ability to clear the boundary and take crucial wickets makes them a dangerous opponent in the T10 format.
Player Highlights
Austria (AUT)
Bilal Zalmai – All-Rounder (AUT)
With 33 matches under their belt, Bilal Zalmai is Austria’s most consistent fantasy performer, averaging 95 points per match and earning 9 Player of the Match awards (27% of matches). Zalmai’s all-round prowess is evident: 92 sixes, 61 fours, and 6 fifties with the bat, complemented by 995 bowling fantasy points and a wicket per match. Their top score of 79 and a highest single-match fantasy haul of 204 points underline their match-winning potential.
Karanbir Singh – All-Rounder (AUT)
A true T10 dynamo, Karanbir Singh has smashed 159 sixes and 95 fours in just 54 matches, with 10 fifties and 2 hundreds. Averaging 89 fantasy points per match, Singh has 10 Player of the Match awards (18.5% of matches). Their top score of 119 and a highest fantasy match of 261 points make them a game-changer with both bat and ball (1238 bowling points).
Amar Naeem – Wicket-Keeper (AUT)
Naeem’s 54-match career features 104 sixes, 110 fours, and 7 fifties, with a top score of 95. Averaging 60 fantasy points per match, Naeem is a reliable contributor with the gloves (21 catches, 1 stumping) and the bat, and has 5 Player of the Match awards.
Aqib Iqbal – All-Rounder, Captain (AUT)
Iqbal’s leadership is matched by their all-round stats: 104 matches, 132 sixes, 72 fours, and 9 fifties. With 13 Player of the Match awards (12.5% of matches) and 50 fantasy points per match, Iqbal is a proven performer in high-pressure situations.
Belgium (BEL)
Sherry Butt – Batsman (BEL)
With 72 matches, Butt is Belgium’s six-hitting machine (133 sixes, 91 fours) and has 8 fifties. Averaging 49 fantasy points per match, Butt’s top score is 95, and they have 5 Player of the Match awards. Their fielding is also notable, with 38 catches.
Aziz Mohammad – All-Rounder (BEL)
Aziz Mohammad brings balance with 59 matches, 89 sixes, 52 fours, and a century to their name. Averaging 45 fantasy points per match, Mohammad has 10 Player of the Match awards (17% of matches) and is a threat with both bat and ball.
Rafiullah Alokzai – Bowler (BEL)
Alokzai’s 25 matches have yielded 877 bowling fantasy points (35 per match) and 2 three-wicket hauls. With a highest match fantasy of 113 and a consistent wicket-taking record, Alokzai is Belgium’s bowling spearhead.
Burhan Niaz – All-Rounder (BEL)
Niaz’s 60 matches feature 92 sixes, 65 fours, and 6 fifties. Averaging 42 fantasy points per match, Niaz is a reliable all-rounder with 6 Player of the Match awards and a top score of 87.
Key Player Matchups: Head-to-Head
Power Hitters:
Karanbir Singh (AUT) vs Sherry Butt (BEL)- Singh: 159 sixes, 61 average batting fantasy points
- Butt: 133 sixes, 41 average batting fantasy points
All-Rounders:
Bilal Zalmai (AUT) vs Aziz Mohammad (BEL)- Zalmai: 2 sixes/match, 27 runs/match, 1 wicket/match, 95 fantasy points/match
- Mohammad: 1 six/match, 14 runs/match, 0 wickets/match, 45 fantasy points/match
Bowling Threats:
Sahel Zadran (AUT) vs Iftikhar Kankhel (BEL)- Zadran: 1884 bowling points, 16 avg bowling points/match
- Kankhel: 727 bowling points, 33 avg bowling points/match
Captain & Vice-Captain Recommendations
Safe Choices:
- Bilal Zalmai (AUT): Highest fantasy average, consistent all-rounder, and frequent match-winner.
- Karanbir Singh (AUT): Explosive batter, high sixes per match, and strong fantasy record.
Bold Picks:
- Aziz Mohammad (BEL): Proven match-winner with both bat and ball, high ceiling for fantasy points.
- Rafiullah Alokzai (BEL): Leading Belgium’s bowling attack, capable of big hauls in T10.
Insights & Key Matchups
- Austria’s all-rounders (Zalmai, Singh, Iqbal) provide depth and flexibility, making them favorites in both batting and bowling departments.
- Belgium’s power hitters (Butt, Mohammad, Niaz) can change the game in a few overs, while their bowlers (Kankhel, Alokzai) are capable of breakthroughs.
- Fielding could be decisive: Players like Sherry Butt and Walid Sahibzada (BEL) and Amar Naeem (AUT) have strong fielding records, which could tip the balance in a tight T10 contest.
Final Word
With both teams boasting a 60% win rate and a host of match-winners, this T10 encounter promises fireworks. Austria’s decision to field first could set up a thrilling chase, but Belgium’s explosive batters and crafty bowlers will be eager to make their mark. Expect a contest where every over is a spectacle and every player has the chance to be a hero.
Stay tuned for what promises to be a pulsating clash at Cricket Club Velden 91!
- Bilal Zalmai – All-Rounder – Avg. Points: 95.0 – AUT
- Karanbir Singh – All-Rounder – Avg. Points: 89.0 – AUT
- Akshay Wagh – All-Rounder – Avg. Points: 75.0 – AUT
- Amar Naeem – Wicket-Keeper – Avg. Points: 60.0 – AUT
- Rafiullah Alokzai – Bowler – Avg. Points: 51.0 – BEL
- Aqib Iqbal – All-Rounder – Avg. Points: 50.0 – AUT
- Sherry Butt – Batsman – Avg. Points: 49.0 – BEL
- Aziz Mohammad – All-Rounder – Avg. Points: 45.0 – BEL
- Iftikhar Kankhel – Bowler – Avg. Points: 42.0 – BEL
- Burhan Niaz – All-Rounder – Avg. Points: 42.0 – BEL
- Jamil Syed – Batsman – Avg. Points: 40.0 – BEL
Number of players from each team:
• Austria (AUT): 5
• Belgium (BEL): 6
Number of players from each skill type:
• All-Rounder: 5
• Bowler: 2
• Batsman: 2
• Wicket-Keeper: 1
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