ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I Preview: Key Players And Stats, Live Streaming, Pitch Report, Probable XIs

ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I Preview [Source: @ZimCricketv, @rashidkhan_19/x]

The Afghanistan team will commence its all-format tour of Zimbabwe with the series-opening first T20I match at the Harare Sports Club on Wednesday, December 11. The action is slated to commence from 5:00 PM IST onwards.

ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I: Match Details And Live Streaming

ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I Preview: Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe upstaged Pakistan in a dead-rubber last week, but ended up losing the three-match series 2-1. Back in October this year, the Zimbabwean cricket team finished at the top of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier Group B. Captain Sikandar Raza will be required to play a big role for his team in a bid to topple Afghanistan at home. In-form batter Tadiwanashe Marumani and young fast bowler Richard Ngarava also need to sustain their prolific form against Rashid Khan’s visiting troops.

ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I Preview: Afghanistan

The Afghanistan team achieved its first-ever semifinal appearance at a T20 World Cup, doing so at the 2024 edition a few months ago in the USA and the West Indies. The series against Zimbabwe marks Afghanistan’s first crack at T20Is since the conclusion of the multi-nation tournament back in June. All-rounder and T20 veteran Rashid Khan will be banking on his senior teammate Mohammad Nabi and blistering opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz to come up clutch in the Zimbabwe T20Is. Prolific fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi will also start out as one of the key members in the Afghanistan line-up.

ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I Pitch Report: How Will Harare Surface Behave?

Batters often find it easier to play free-flowing strokes at the Harare Sports Club owing to the high-scoring nature of the surface. The average first innings total at the venue in the last eight matches since December 2023 has amounted to 163. The captain winning the toss will likely opt to bat first.

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ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I: Key Players And Stats

• Sikandar Raza: 314 runs and 12 wickets in last 10 matches, Batting Average: 44.86, SR: 173.48
• Rahmanullah Gurbaz: 290 runs in last 10 matches, Batting Average: 29.00, SR: 121.84
• Richard Ngarava: 12 wickets in last 10 matches, Economy: 6.21, SR: 16.33
• Fazalhaq Farooqi: 19 wickets in last 10 matches, Economy: 7.02, SR: 10.21

ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I: Probable Playing XIs

Zimbabwe Probable XI: Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Wessly Madhevere, Tashinga Musekiwa, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani and Tinotenda Maposa.

Afghanistan Probable XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Nangeyalia Kharote, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi.

ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I: Winner Prediction

On the basis of recent form and superior head-to-head record, Afghanistan will start out as favourites to defeat hosts Zimbabwe in the first T20I and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

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