ZIM vs AFG 1st ODI Preview: Key Players And Stats, Live Streaming, Pitch Report, Probable XIs

ZIM vs AFG 1st ODI Preview [Source: @ACBofficials/x]

Zimbabwe will host Afghanistan in the first ODI of their three-match series at the Harare Sports Club on Tuesday, December 17. The visiting Afghanistan team won the preceding T20I series of the tour by a 2-1 margin.

ZIM vs AFG 1st ODI: Match Details And Live Streaming

ZIM vs AFG 1st ODI Preview: Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe cricket team stunned Pakistan in one of the home ODIs last month before losing the subsequent two to concede the three-match series by a 1-2 margin. Earlier this year, the Zimbabweans were also blanked 0-2 by Sri Lanka in an away series. In a bid to attain some winning momentum going ahead, it is imperative for Craig Ervine’s troops to topple Afghanistan on familiar home conditions.

ZIM vs AFG 1st ODI Preview: Afghanistan

The Afghanistan cricket team registered identical 2-1 ODI series wins over South Africa and Bangladesh in succession at Sharjah within the past couple of months. The series against Zimbabwe serves as a crucial testing ground for Afghanistan in their journey towards next year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan and the UAE. Under the leadership of Hashmatullah Shahidi and his deputy Rahmat Shah, Afghanistan’s visiting line-up also features a legion of white-ball superstars like Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Fazalhaq Farooqi.

ZIM vs AFG 1st ODI Pitch Report: How Will Harare Surface Behave?

Fast bowlers will receive considerable pace and bounce from the Harare surface, and can make early inroads with the new ball. However, spinners will likely determine the middle overs of the innings. While the average first innings total at the venue in all ODIs amounts to just 227, the same has dipped to 212 in the past five matches. The captain winning the toss will likely opt to field first.

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ZIM vs AFG 1st ODI: Key Players And Stats

• Joylord Gumbie: 189 runs in last 9 matches, Batting Average: 21.00, SR: 64.94
• Rahmanullah Gurbaz: 530 runs in last 10 matches, Batting Average: 53.00, SR: 89.98
• Richard Ngarava: 12 wickets in last 8 matches, Economy: 4.85, SR: 27.41
• Rashid Khan: 12 wickets in last 5 matches, Economy: 3.27, SR: 22.75

ZIM vs AFG 1st ODI: Probable Playing XIs

Zimbabwe Probable XI: Joylord Gumbie, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Dion Myers, Craig Ervine (c), Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Brian Bennett, Tinotenda Maposa, Victor Nyauchi, Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani.

Afghanistan Probable XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote, AM Ghazanfar and Fazalhaq Farooqi.

ZIM vs AFG 1st ODI: Winner Prediction

On the basis of recent form and superior head-to-head record off late, Afghanistan will start out as favourites over Zimbabwe to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

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