Zimbabwe v Afghanistan 1st ODI preview – Afghanistan look to prove themselves

Zimbabwe v Afghanistan 1st ODI preview – Afghanistan look to prove themselves: Afghanistan is on the tour of Zimbabwe to play 5 ODIs and 2 T20Is. It is their second tour to Zimbabwe after they visited them last year and played 4 ODIs and 2 T20Is. The series was tied as the end result read 2-2 for ODIs and 1-1 for the T20Is.

The contest should be equal and both the teams will look to gain upper hand over each other to start the series on a positive note.

The first tie of the series will be played at Queens Sports Club at Bulawayo on Friday Oct 13.

Zimbabwe:

Zimbabwe are fresh from the inspiring 2-1 series victory over Ireland and would look to carry forward the momentum ahead against the visitors. They will like to reign in supreme against the relatively less experienced Afghanistan. Their batting is slowly becoming their strength. Sikander Raza, Sean Williams and Craig Ervine have been reliable batting option for Zimbabwe. Ervine had scored 61 and 101* in the first 2 ODIs against Ireland. Raza has also scored 2 half centuries in the 3 match series. Williams has also been a worthy performer having struck one half-century in the last series. The only concern they would be pondering over is the struggling batting form of their openers Chibhabha and Mutumbami.

From bowling point of view, Zimbabwe clearly lack the bowlers who can land the knockout punch on the opposition. However, they work well as a unit. Muzarabani, Jongwe, Nyumbu are the mainstay bowlers for Zimbabwe but don’t have any international experience. They must step up the game if Zimbabwe need to be dominant in the upcoming matches.

Afghanistan:

Afghanistan have been taking rapid strides in developing their cricket. They also received a huge boost in the form of Pakistani batting legend Inzamam-ul-Haq. He was appointed as their Head Coach of the team.

Coming into the tour, Afghanistan previously played 3 tour games against the Zimbabwe Chairman’s XI. They managed to win first 2 matches but lost the last match. The Afghani batsmen performed well in patches but none of them was consistent. Mohammed Shazad is their main batting hope if form is concerned. He performed exceptionally well in the tour games having scored two half centuries.

Afghanistan team has good all-rounders. Samiullah Shenwari, Mohammed Nabi to name a few. The bowlers have also complimented each other and have played well like a unit. Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Shapoor Zadran, and the young 21-year-old Fareed Ahmed form the core of the bowling unit. Afghanistan will look forward to put in some inspiring efforts under the new reigns of Inzamam ul Haq.

Series schedule:

1st ODI – Oct 16

2nd ODI – Oct 18

3rd ODI – Oct 20

4th ODI – Oct 22

5th ODI – Oct 24

1st T20I – Oct 27

2nd T20I – Oct 29

Squads:

Zimbabwe –

Elton Chigumbura (C), Sikandar Raza, Brian Chari, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Luke Jongwe, Neville Madziva, Wellington Masakadza, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Richmond Mutumbami, Taurai Muzarabani, John Nyumbu, Tinashe Panyangara, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams

Afghanistan –

Mohammad Nabi (C), Noor Ali Zadran, Nawroz Mangal, Mohammad Shahzad, Asghar Stanikzai, Samiullah Shenwari, Shafiquallh, Najibullah Zadran, Mirwais Ashraf, Amir Hamza, Dawlat Zadran, Shapoor Zadran, Aftab Alam, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Fareed Ahmad.