Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe – 1st T20 International Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe taking place? Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 – 10:00 (UK)
Where is Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe taking place? Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
What is the expected weather for Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe? 32c with sunshine
What channel is Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe on? The match will be televised live on FreeSports in the UK (Sky channel 422)
Where can I stream Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe? The match will not be streamed live in the UK
LAST MEETING
Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 7 wickets
THE TEAM NEWS
AFGHANISTAN
- Afghanistan return to their preferred format of the game as they open this T20 three-game series off the back of a good Test win that saw them tie the series after their surprise defeat in the first game.
- Their preparations have been hampered by visa issues which means they are without five players including Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Gulbadin Naib but they can count upon Mohammad Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Najibullah Zadran and Naveen Ul Haq who are all expected to start.
- While they are without some key players, that does hand an opportunity to some of their fringe and younger players to impress so motivation will still be high even if they are short on quality based on their strongest team.
ZIMBABWE
- Zimbabwe come into this T20 series with something to prove as they failed to qualify for the World Cup unlike their opponents and they will be keen to show that they have not been overtaken by the likes of Afghanistan.
- Like in the Tests, they remain without Peter Moor, Brendan Taylor and Craig Ervine who are all ruled out through injury and illness and the squad they have named is not that dissimilar from the Test team.
- There will be a fair reliance on skipper Sean Williams and all-rounders Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl in this format too but they do desperately need more players to contribute if they are to push Afghanistan here.
THE PREDICTION
These two teams split the Test series one apiece but it will be Afghanistan who will fancy their chances in the shortest format of the game. They have been the much more impressive of the two teams and will fancy their chances even more than in the Tests especially with Mohammad Nabi back and strengthening the team. They are not at full strength but neither are Zimbabwe and it is certainly the Afghans who have more matchwinners in their ranks. Their spinners will be even more dangerous in this format of the game and that will likely be the fundamental difference that will tip the game in their favour.
