Follow UsAfter a grueling season of the Indian Premier League, international cricket is back on our screen and now it is some time for some ODI action. Zimbabwe and Afghanistan will take on each other for the first of three ODIs which will then move to a three-match T20I series at the same venue. The Craig Ervine-led side will take inspiration from their previous feat at home to topple Afghanistan, who have had their fair share of problems - both cricketing and otherwise - to deal with.
Head to Head
Overall | Matches 25 | Afghanistan 15 | Zimbabwe 10
Last Five Matches | Afghanistan 3 | Zimbabwe 2
Ground Details and Team Combination
Since January 2018, Harare Sports Club has hosted 18 matches in which 7531 runs have been scored at a run rate of 4.7. A batting average of 26.6 with a balls per dismissal ratio of 33.6. Hence, one can easily conclude that this is not the easiest of surfaces to bat. 161 of the total 261 wickets that fell in the aforementioned time period went to pacers whereas spinners have had a share of 100 wickets. Naturally, pacers have had a better bowling average and bowling strike rate - 26.2 and 33 respectively - as compared to 31.8 and 41.8 by the spinners.
Team Selection
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.
Captain selection
Rashid Khan as captain makes no surprise. The best T20 player of our generation, Rashid hasn’t been able to make the same stride in ODIs but he is no mug. A side like Zimbabwe know very well the perils of playing against Rashid as it could backfire taking him on. That justifies his economy rate of 3.9. Also, with the kind of hitting abilities that Rashid has, it is fair to assume that he is our best bet as captain.
Our Criclytics Player Projection predicts Rashid to pick 1-2 wickets
X-Factors
One of the most consistent batters on the Zimbabwean side, Sikandar Raza boasts a batting average of 34.29 with 19 half-centuries and three centuries. She has 3086 runs in her career with a balls per dismissal ratio of 40.8. Even though not a big striker of the ball, he makes up for it with his patience and the ability to play long innings.
Our Criclytics Player Projection predicts Raza to score 22-34 runs and pick 1-2 wickets
Another fantastic batter in the African side, skipper Craig Ervine has a batting average of 32.61 with 18 half-centuries and three centuries in the 50-over format. His consistency was rewarded with a leadership role when he was appointed as the limited-overs captain, and in the course of the series, he also will have a chance to get to the 3000-run mark. While being wary of certain aspects in Afghanistan’s relentless barrage of spin bowling, Ervine will bring his ability to counter pace to the fore.
Our Criclytics Player Projection predicts Ervine to score 34-52 runs
Probable XIs:
Zimbabwe: Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Dion Myers, Regis Chakabva (wk), Craig Ervine (c), Wessley Madhevere, Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, Ainsley Ndlovu, Blessing Muzarabani, Tendai Chatara, Luke Jongwe
Afghanistan : Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Yamin Ahmadzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi