Afghanistan v Zimbabwe preview, 1st ODI
Overview
Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, Sharjah
1st ODI
Friday 9 February, 14:00 local time; 10:00 GMT
Having swept the Twenty20 International series 2-0, Afghanistan should have the upper hand when they lock horns with Zimbabwe in the opening fixture of the five-match One-Day International series in Sharjah on Friday (February 9).
Out of the 19 ODI encounters between the two sides to date, Afghanistan have won 11. They also hold the overall edge as Zimbabwe have never won a series against them, with the drawn affair in 2014 the best result for the visiting side.
Crucially, this series precedes the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018, which will take place in March in Zimbabwe and end with the top two teams making it to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Keeping that in mind, both the teams will look to dominate from the start.
Afghanistan have a mix of talented spinners in Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Zadran and Sharafuddin Ashraf, as well as a supreme all-rounder in Mohammad Nabi, who ranks third in the MRF Tyres ICC ODI All-Rounder Rankings. While Nabi was the standout batsman for them in the T20Is, there’s firepower in Karim Sadiq, Asghar Stanikzai and Najibullah Zadran, while Mohammad Shahzad, back in the mix after serving a suspension by the ICC for violating an anti-doping rule, should take his position at the top of the batting order as he did in the T20Is.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will have to find a way to counter the Afghan spinners. Sikandar Raza is among the few to have put up a fight with a 26-ball 40 in the last T20I, but most of the others have struggled. That said, there’s class in the Zimbabwe batting line-up, with experience in the form of Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor, Malcolm Waller and Craig Ervine, and people like Solomon Mire, who can up the scoring rate.
In the bowling department, the return of Brian Vitori should add some variety to the attack, which already has Tendai Chatara, Graeme Cremer, Kyle Jarvis and Blessing Muzarabani, making Zimbabwe a formidable outfit on paper.
Key Players:
Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan): With quick hands of 40 and 45 in the two T20Is, Nabi played a vital role in giving Afghanistan a series sweep, and with the boundaries in Sharjah being short, he can change the game with his big hitting. Nabi also chipped in with a wicket in both the matches, and his ability to deliver with both bat and ball could make the difference.
Brendan Taylor (Zimbabwe): The wicketkeeper-batsman is one of the most experienced players in the Zimbabwe side. Though he has been well below his best with the bat in the two T20Is, his undoubted ability – 5,378 runs from 171 ODIs including eight centuries – makes him a valuable asset. If he can rediscover his form, it will be crucial from Zimbabwe’s point of view.
Conditions
The pitch in Sharjah should be good for batting, and with the boundaries being short, there should be enough big hits. The forecast looks promising too, with temperatures expected to hover around 29° C.
Squads
Afghanistan: Asghar Stanikzai (capt), Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Javed Ahmadi, Ihsanullah Janat, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shinwari, Nasir Jamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Zadran, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Dawlat Zadran, Shapoor Zadran.
Zimbabwe: Graeme Cremer (capt), Hamilton Masakadza, Solomon Mire, Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor (wk), Sikandar Raza, Peter Moor, Malcolm Waller, Brian Vitori, Tendai Chisoro, Blessing Muzarabani, Ryan Burl, Tendai Chatara, Kyle Jarvis.
