ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I Dream11 Fantasy Tips: 3 Top Picks For Grand League Contests

Debashis Sarangi

ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I Fantasy Tips [Source: @ZimCricketv/X, @ACBofficials/X]ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I Fantasy Tips [Source: @ZimCricketv/X, @ACBofficials/X]

This afternoon, Zimbabwe will take on Afghanistan in the first T20I of the upcoming three-match series on home soil. Led by Sikandar Raza, the Chevrons recently had a memorable outing, pipping Pakistan by two wickets in a nail-biting dead-rubber clash in Bulawayo. However, the series against Afghanistan certainly poses a different challenge altogether for the home side, considering the visitors' exponential rise as giant killers in white-ball cricket. 

As the stage is set for a cracking battle, let's see which players could be the top picks for dream11 grand league contests. But before proceeding, here's a take on Harare's playing conditions which might help you create your dream team. 

Harare Sports Club Pitch Report

The surface at Harare Sports Club will be slightly on the drier side. There will be little moisture on the pitch, so don't expect significant seam movement for the new ball bowlers. However, the bowlers who can swing the ball in the air (such as Fazalhaq Farooqi and Richard Ngarava) might still be effective as swing doesn't depend on the pitch. 

So, the batters must adopt a cautious approach in the first few overs before shifting gears. As the ball gets older, the spinners will get decent turn from the surface, posing challenges for the batters in the middle overs. With the sun beating down, the pitch get drier with time, making the spinners and hit-the-deck bowlers more effective in the second innings. 

3 Top Picks For ZIM vs AFG Dream11 Grand League Contests

Sikandar Raza

  • The Zimbabwean captain is the most reliable pick from his team. Besides scoring crucial runs in the middle order, Raza can be effective with his spin bowling in Harare. 
  • In 2024, Raza has slammed 523 T20I runs at a blistering strike rate of 149.86, while scalping 22 wickets in 21 matches. 

Noor Ahmad

  • Noor Ahmad can bamboozle the batters with his wily spin bowling in the middle overs. The young bowler has been a vital member of Afghanistan's bowling unit. 
  • The Zimbabwean batters recently struggled against Pakistan's left-arm wrist spinner Sufyan Muqeem. As Noor Ahmad is a similar bowler, he could be a game-changer for Afghanistan in this match. 

Rashid Khan

  • Afghanistan's legendary spinner Rashid Khan is a must pick for the first T20I against Zimbabwe. The experienced bowler has impressive numbers against Zimbabwe, scalping 23 wickets in 15 matches. 
  • He will enjoy Harare's playing conditions and his variations and knack for targeting stumps could make Rashid extremely tough to face for the home team. 

P.S: Apart from the aforementioned players, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Blessing Muzarabani could be valuable picks for your dream team.