ECN Austria-Belgium T20I, 2025: Austria (AUT) vs Belgium (BEL) – 3rd T20I Preview
Match: ECN Austria-Belgium T20I, 2025 Single Group Match Day 2 Match 3 (3rd T20I)
Date: 24 August 2025
Start Time: 09:30 Local Time | 12:00 IST
Venue: Cricket Club Velden 91
Format: T20
Toss: Austria won the toss and elected to bat
Match Type: Group Match
Spotlight on the Stars: Who Will Shine Brightest?
As Austria and Belgium prepare to lock horns in the third T20I of the ECN Austria-Belgium T20I, 2025, all eyes are on the key performers who could shape the outcome of this high-stakes encounter.
Predicted Standouts
Most Sixes:
Karanbir Singh (AUT) – With a remarkable career average of 3 sixes per match, Singh is the clear frontrunner to clear the ropes most frequently.Most Runs:
Karanbir Singh (AUT) – Averaging 29 runs per match, Singh is also the leading candidate to top the run charts.Most Wickets:
Rafiullah Alokzai (BEL) – Averaging 1 wicket per match, Alokzai stands out as Belgium’s most consistent wicket-taker.Match MVP:
Bilal Zalmai (AUT) – With an impressive average of 96 points per match over his career, Zalmai’s all-round prowess makes him a strong contender for the match’s top performer.
Team Overviews
Austria (AUT)
- Matches Played: 90
- Matches Won: 55
- Win Percentage: 61.1%
- Strongest Player (Career Average): Bilal Zalmai (96 per match)
- Strongest Player (Current Event): Data not available
- Top Six-Hitter: Karanbir Singh (181 career sixes)
- Top Wicket-Taker: Sahel Zadran (career data shows consistent bowling, but no wickets per match recorded)
Austria enters this contest with a formidable record and a well-balanced squad. Their batting firepower is led by Karanbir Singh, while Bilal Zalmai’s all-round abilities provide depth and flexibility.
Belgium (BEL)
- Matches Played: 76
- Matches Won: 44
- Win Percentage: 57.9%
- Strongest Player (Career Average): Sherry Butt (50 per match)
- Strongest Player (Current Event): Data not available
- Top Six-Hitter: Sherry Butt (141 career sixes)
- Top Wicket-Taker: Rafiullah Alokzai (1 wicket per match)
Belgium’s strength lies in their aggressive batting, with Sherry Butt and Aziz Mohammad capable of changing the game in a matter of overs. Their bowling attack, spearheaded by Alokzai, will be crucial in containing Austria’s powerful lineup.
Player Highlights
Austria (AUT)
Karanbir Singh – All-Rounder (AUT)
Singh’s statistics are nothing short of extraordinary. With 181 sixes and 107 fours in just 57 matches, he boasts a career average of 29 runs per match and 3 sixes per game. His top score of 119 and two career hundreds underline his ability to dominate any bowling attack. Singh’s all-round skills are further highlighted by 1,263 bowling points and a best bowling performance of 4 wickets in a match. With 13 Player of the Match awards, he is a proven match-winner.
Bilal Zalmai – All-Rounder (AUT)
Zalmai’s consistency is reflected in his 36-match career, where he averages 27 runs per match and 2 sixes per game. He has six fifties and a top score of 79, with a best bowling performance of 3 wickets in a match. His 9 Player of the Match awards (a 25% award ratio) speak volumes about his impact in crucial moments.
Aqib Iqbal – All-Rounder, Captain (AUT)
Iqbal brings experience and leadership, having played 107 matches. He has 133 sixes and 73 fours, with a top score of 75. His all-round contributions include 1,855 bowling points and 35 catches. With 14 Player of the Match awards, Iqbal is a reliable performer under pressure.
Mehar Cheema – Wicket-Keeper (AUT)
Cheema’s dual role as a wicket-keeper and batter is vital for Austria. In 64 matches, he has hit 71 sixes and 69 fours, with a top score of 66. His 25 catches and 20 stumpings highlight his sharpness behind the stumps, and he has 4 Player of the Match awards to his name.
Belgium (BEL)
Sherry Butt – Batsman (BEL)
Butt is Belgium’s batting lynchpin, with 141 sixes and 95 fours in 75 matches. Averaging 18 runs per match, he has eight fifties and a top score of 95. His fielding is also noteworthy, with 42 catches. Butt has 5 Player of the Match awards, reflecting his ability to deliver in big games.
Aziz Mohammad – All-Rounder (BEL)
Aziz Mohammad’s all-round credentials are impressive, with 102 sixes and 62 fours in 62 matches. He averages 16 runs per match and has a top score of 100. With 11 Player of the Match awards, he is a proven game-changer for Belgium.
Burhan Niaz – All-Rounder (BEL)
Niaz has contributed 102 sixes and 74 fours in 63 matches, averaging 16 runs per match. His best bowling performance is 3 wickets in a match, and he has 6 Player of the Match awards, underlining his value as a genuine all-rounder.
Rafiullah Alokzai – Bowler (BEL)
Alokzai is Belgium’s leading wicket-taker, averaging 1 wicket per match over 28 games. His best bowling figures are 3 wickets in a match, and he has 7 catches to his name, making him a key figure in Belgium’s bowling attack.
Key Player Matchups
Karanbir Singh (AUT) vs Sherry Butt (BEL):
Both are prolific six-hitters, with Singh holding a slight edge in both sixes per match and overall run-scoring ability. Butt, however, brings more experience and a higher number of matches played.Bilal Zalmai (AUT) vs Aziz Mohammad (BEL):
Both all-rounders have similar profiles, but Zalmai’s higher average and more frequent Player of the Match awards suggest he could have a greater impact.Sahel Zadran (AUT) vs Rafiullah Alokzai (BEL):
Zadran’s consistent bowling is matched by Alokzai’s wicket-taking ability. This battle could determine which team controls the middle overs.
Captain & Vice-Captain Recommendations
Safe Choices:
- Karanbir Singh (AUT): His all-round ability and consistency make him a reliable leader.
- Sherry Butt (BEL): A proven performer with both bat and in the field.
Bold Choices:
- Bilal Zalmai (AUT): High ceiling as an all-rounder, capable of turning the match single-handedly.
- Aziz Mohammad (BEL): His knack for big performances and Player of the Match awards make him a high-reward pick.
Insights & Key Matchups
This contest promises fireworks, with both teams boasting explosive batters and versatile all-rounders. Austria’s Karanbir Singh and Bilal Zalmai are likely to set the tone, while Belgium’s Sherry Butt and Aziz Mohammad will look to counter with their own brand of aggression. The battle between Austria’s experienced bowling unit and Belgium’s power-packed batting will be pivotal.
Keep an eye on the all-rounders—players like Singh, Zalmai, and Mohammad have the ability to influence the game in all departments. The outcome may well hinge on which team’s stars rise to the occasion at Cricket Club Velden 91.
Don’t miss the action as Austria and Belgium vie for supremacy in this crucial group match of the ECN Austria-Belgium T20I, 2025!
- Bilal Zalmai – All-Rounder – [AUT]
- Karanbir Singh – All-Rounder – [AUT]
- Hamid Safi – All-Rounder – [AUT]
- Sherry Butt – Batter – [BEL]
- Aqib Iqbal – All-Rounder – [AUT]
- Zeeshan Goraya – All-Rounder – [AUT]
- Aziz Mohammad – All-Rounder – [BEL]
- Rafiullah Alokzai – Bowler – [BEL]
- Burhan Niaz – All-Rounder – [BEL]
- Oliver Herrington – All-Rounder – [BEL]
- Mehar Cheema – Wicket-Keeper – [AUT]
Number of players from each team:
Austria (AUT): 6
Belgium (BEL): 5
Number of players from each skill type:
All-Rounder: 7
Batter: 1
Bowler: 1
Wicket-Keeper: 1
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