Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan Head to Head Record, 1st ODI: Afghanistan Tour of Zimbabwe 2024, Stats and Results

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ZIM vs AFG 1st ODI: Zimbabwe will host Afghanistan in the first ODI of a three-match series at the Harare Sports Club on Tuesday, December 17, starting at 1:00 PM IST. Afghanistan comes into the ODI series on the back of a 2-1 victory in the preceding T20I series. This showcased their strong depth in both batting and bowling.

The visitors also carry momentum from recent ODI triumphs against South Africa and Bangladesh, making them favorites for this contest. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, faces a challenging task. After a spirited but losing effort against Pakistan in their previous home ODI series, they aim to regain winning form on familiar ground.

Match Information

Date: Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Time: 1:00 PM IST
Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare
Streaming: FanCode (Website and app)

Team News

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's batting has struggled for consistency, and their bowling has lacked impact during crucial phases. Captain Craig Ervine and all-rounder Sikandar Raza will be key players for the hosts in this crucial opener.

The hosts are expected to field a balanced XI featuring experienced campaigners like Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza, and Sean Williams. They will also rely on bowlers such as Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani to exploit any early movement on the Harare pitch.

Probable XI: Craig Ervine (C), Joylord Gumbie (WK), Tadiwanashe Marumani, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, Brian Bennett, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Wellington Masakadza, Victor Nyauchi.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan, led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, boasts a formidable spin attack featuring Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, complemented by pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi. Zimbabwe's batters will need to counter Afghanistan's spin threat effectively to stay competitive.

The visitors bring a solid lineup with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rahmat Shah providing stability at the top, while Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi will anchor the spin department.

Probable XI: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Gulbadin Naib, AM Ghanzafar, Sediqullah Atal.

Head-to-Head Record

Total matches played: 28
Matches won by Zimbabwe: 10
Matches won by Afghanistan: 18
Matches with no result: 0

Pitch and Weather Report

Pitch Report

The Harare Sports Club pitch is expected to offer early assistance to pacers with pace and bounce but will gradually favor spinners as the match progresses. Batters might find it challenging to score freely initially due to the slower nature of the surface. The average first-innings total here in the last five ODIs is 212, emphasizing the bowlers' dominance.

Weather Report

Weather could disrupt proceedings with a 90% chance of rain and a 54% risk of thunderstorms forecasted during the afternoon. Cloud cover will hover at 99%, and winds from the northeast at 13 km/h might slightly influence play. With temperatures at a comfortable 23°C, both teams will aim to capitalize on any available playing time.

Player Stats

Most Runs (ZIM Current Players): Sikandar Raza - 765 runs
Most Wickets in series (ZIM Current Players): Tendai Chatara - 22 wickets
Most Runs in series (AFG Current Players): Mohammad Nabi - 733 runs
Most Wickets in series (AFG Current Players): Rashid Khan - 47 wickets

Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan Complete Squads

Zimbabwe Squad: Craig Ervine (captain), Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Joylord Gumbie (wicket-keeper), Trevor Gwandu, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wicket-keeper), Wellington Masakadza, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Victor Nyauchi, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams.

Afghanistan Squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmat Shah (vice-captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicket-keeper), Ikram Alikhil (wicket-keeper), Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Bilal Sami, Naveed Zadran and Farid Ahmad Malik.