ZIM vs IRE Dream11 Prediction: 3 Top Captain Or Vice-Captain Choices For 1st ODI

Aakash Saini

ZIM vs IRE Dream11 Prediction [Source: @ICC/x]ZIM vs IRE Dream11 Prediction [Source: @ICC/x]

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Zimbabwe (ZIM) will host Ireland (IRE) in the first ODI of their three-match series at the iconic Harare Sports Club in Harare on Friday, February 14 from 1:00 PM IST onwards. The series will continue Ireland’s all-format trip to the African nation, which commenced with a one-off Test match last week.

Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwean cricket team recorded a stunning 80-run win over Pakistan a couple of months ago in Bulawayo. However, the ‘Chevrons’ lost the three-match series at home by a 1-2 margin, and also lost 0-2 to Afghanistan at the Harare Sports Club in December 2024. On a trail of four straight defeats, hosts Zimbabwe will be hoping for captain Craig Ervine and senior all-rounders Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza to come up clutch for them.

Ireland

Apart from winning the one-off Test earlier this month, the Ireland cricket team also registered a 2-0 series win in its previous ODI trip to Zimbabwe back in December 2023. Ireland also managed to stun a strong South African unit in Abu Dhabi by a huge 69-run margin last October, after losing the series to the Proteas and to the Afghanistan team in succession. Nonetheless, the visiting Irishmen will be aiming to put past struggles behind in a bid to take an early advantage over Zimbabwe early in their ODI segment of the tour.

Harare Sports Club, Harare – Pitch Report For ZIM vs IRE 1st ODI

The surface at the Harare Sports Club in Harare is a tricky one for batters. While the average first innings total at the venue in all men’s ODIs amounts to just 226, the same marks 202 while considering the past five matches alone. Fast bowlers can extract early movement with the new ball, and spinners can strangulate batters by bowling tight line and lengths during the middle overs. Batters will have to bide their time at the crease before unleashing their strokes. As per the recent track record, the captain winning the toss will likely opt to field first.

Top 3 Captain and Vice-Captain Choices For ZIM vs IRE 1st ODI

3. Sikandar Raza

Why Sikandar Raza Will Be A Good Choice As The Captain Or Vice-captain?

Senior Zimbabwe all-rounder: Sikandar Raza holds an experience of 148 ODI matches, and is one of the seniormost members in the current Zimbabwe setup. The 38-year-old has minted over 4,000 runs in his ODI career at an impressive middle-order average of 36.09. The cricketer has also collected 92 wickets in the format.

Can keep run-rate in check: Sikandar Raza holds a penchant of keeping things tight in the middle overs of the innings through his cunning off-breaks as well as with leg-spin. With an economy of just 4.84, Raza can strangulate even the strongest of batting line-ups. Moreover, his economy rate in the last seven matches amounts to just 4.11.

2. Harry Tector

Why Harry Tector Will Be A Good Choice As The Captain Or Vice-captain?

Stellar form: Ireland’s firebrand middle-order batter Harry Tector has tallied the highest number of ODI runs among all his teammates in the last 10 matches, cracking 326 runs at a prolific average of 40.75, all while striking at nearly 90.

Formidable ODI record: After playing 44 ODI innings for Ireland since his international debut, Harry Tector has made 1,839 runs at an exceptional batting average of 48.39. The 25-year-old has already plundered five hundreds in the format, to go along with 12 additional fifty-plus scores.

1. Richard Ngarava

Why Richard Ngarava Will Be A Good Choice As The Captain Or Vice-captain?

Cunning new ball operator: Zimbabwe fast bowler Richard Ngarava is capable of making early inroads with the new ball. The speedster already holds impressive numbers in ODI cricket, having claimed 60 wickets in the format from just 47 innings spanning 50 matches. He holds a tight economy rate of just 5.28.

Recent form: Richard Ngarava has emerged as Zimbabwe’s leading wicket-taker in ODIs off late. The 27-year-old fast bowler has picked up 12 wickets in his last seven ODIs, and has bowled with an impressive economy rate of just 4.11.