Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 1st T20I Match Prediction - Who will win today's match between ZIM vs AFG T20I match?

The action is in Harare Sports Club where Afghanistan and Zimbabwe start their three-match T20I series. The two teams will hope to begin on a strong note and build momentum early.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe come into the series in great confidence having beaten Afghanistan in the solitary Test. Their players are in good touch and will look to carry their winning momentum in the presence of home crowd. The home team have developed consistent improvement in the past few months, and a good beginning in this T20I series will further boost their morale.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan will seek to rebound from a difficult Test loss. They have a good T20 record in general and have match-winners in Rashid Khan and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who are able to turn games around in a flash. The visitors will attempt to get back into rhythm and set the tone in the early part of the series.

ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I Match Details

ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I Pitch Report

The Harare Sports Club pitch is known to favor batsmen. It provides good bounce and pace, and stroke play becomes easy. Spinners may not get much assistance, and bowlers will have to work on variation. There will be a high-scoring match, and teams batting first will target a total of 170–180.

ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I Weather Report

The Harare weather will be clear and fine on the day of the match. There are no significant possibilities of rain, hence the fans have reasons to enjoy a complete 20-over match.

ZIM vs AFG Head-to-Head Records

ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I Probable XI

• Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (c), Dion Myers, Brian Bennett, Tashinga Musekiwa, Ryan Burl, Brad Evans, Brendan Taylor (wk), Blessing Muzarabani, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Graeme Cremer

• Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai

Players To Watch Out For In ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I Match

• Brendan Taylor | ZIM: Brendan Taylor’s experience makes him Zimbabwe’s key player. With his calm approach and ability to handle pressure, he can build the innings and finish strong. In 49 T20I innings, Taylor has amassed 1131 runs at an average of 26.3. His record at home is impressive and he is likely to continue the same in the series opener against Afghanistan.

• Rashid Khan | AFG: Rashid Khan is the greatest threat for Zimbabwe. His deceptive leg-spin and control can change the game at any time. Even on a batting pitch, his variations are threatening. If he gets key wickets in the middle overs, Afghanistan will be in control. His ability to score some quick runs while batting in the lower-order makes him a valuable asset for Afghanistan.

ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I Toss Prediction

Historical Toss-Winning Stats at the Venue

• In the last three T20I matches played at this venue, the teams that won the toss have opted to bowl first in all three matches.

Advantages of Batting First on This Pitch

• The team batting first at this venue has won 39 out of the total 74 matches played here, while the teams batting second have won 33 games. This trend suggests that teams should prefer to bat first and focus on posting a challenging total in the first innings.

ZIM vs AFG T20I Today's Match Scenario

Scenario 1

• Toss Winner: Zimbabwe (opts to bat first)
• Power-Play Score: 35-40
• ZIM Total: 140-160
• Match Winner: Afghanistan

Scenario 2

• Toss Winner: Afghanistan (opts to bat first)
• Power-Play Score: 45-55
• AFG Total: 155-175
• Match Winner: Afghanistan

Who will win today's ZIM vs AFG T20I match?

Zimbabwe possesses home advantage and excellent recent form, yet Afghanistan's experience and T20 prowess render them narrow favorites. With the likes of Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Rahmanullah Gurbaz in their side, they have the potential to win this match and take 1-0 lead in the series.