AFG vs ZIM, 2nd T20I – Fan2Play Fantasy Cricket Tips, Prediction, Playing XI and Pitch Report

Match Details

The second game of the three-match T20I series between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on 19th March 2021. 

The match will start at 3:30 PM IST (2:00 PM local time). The live streaming of the game will be available on the Fan code app.

Preview 

The Afghanistan team was expected to come hard on the Zimbabwe team in the shortest format and they exactly did that. From the very first ball of that match, Afghanistan seemed to be a better side. It wasn’t until the eighth over that the Zimbabwe team got a wicket, but by then the Afghanistan openers had already got them to a great start with the 80-run partnership.

Things didn’t get any better, as Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Asghar Afghan continued Afghanistan’s march towards a big total. They ended with 198 for 5, with the Zimbabwe pace trio going for more than 10 runs per over. The Afghanistan team has always been known for their bowling and Rashid Khan and co. made sure that none of the Zimbabwe batsmen got going during their run chase.

Opener Tinashe Kamunhukamwe was the only player who got off to some sort of a start, but that didn’t help them as he failed to find a proper pace during that knock. Wickets falling around him didn’t allow him to go for his release shots. By the time he got out, the required rate had gone well above 12, and Zimbabwe eventually succumbed to the pressure, losing the match by 48 runs. 

With this win, Afghanistan achieved their ninth win in 10 T20Is against Zimbabwe. It can be easily assumed that Zimbabwe will have to do a lot of hard work and planning to beat this Afghanistan side in this match. Afghanistan, on the other hand, would be aware that another win would give them the series. 

Probable Playing XIs

Afghanistan

Predicted XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Karim Janat, Usman Ghani, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan (c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Amir Hamza, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fareed Malik

Zimbabwe

Predicted XI: Tarisai Musakanda, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Sean Williams (c), Wesley Madhevere, Sikandar Raza, Richmond Mutumbami (wk), Ryan Burl, Donald Tiripano, Brandon Mavuta, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava

Captaincy picks: 

Rahmanullah Gurbaz:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been in top form with the bat as far as this year is concerned. Since the beginning of this year, with ODI and now T20I, he has shown his range of shots and ability to score quickly, which puts pressure on the bowlers. In the first match, he scored a fantastic 87 runs from 45 balls only, striking at 193.33. He hit seven sixes and six fours during the knock. 

Sikandar Raza: 

Even though the first match didn’t exactly go as Sikandar Raza might have hoped, the middle-order would be fully aware that a big inning from him is still due. He started well in the previous match, racing to 22 runs having faced only 13 balls. But, unfortunately got out at the wrong time, which led to the downfall of Zimbabwean batting. His record in T20I cricket and against spin makes him a firm contender for pulling off a big score in this match. 

Fan2Play Fantasy Cricket Tips

2-Player Team

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (C), Blessing Muzarabani

3-Player Team

Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (C), Sean Williams

4-Player Team

Asghar Afghan, Rashid Khan, Sikandar Raza (C), Tinashe Kamunhukamwe

11-Player Team

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (C), Asghar Afghan, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Tarisai Musakanda, Mohammad Nabi, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Wesley Madhevere, Donald Tiripano, Karim Janat (VC), Rashid Khan.

Disclaimer: This team is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.