Last Updated on 4 years by Charbel Coorey

AFG vs ZIM 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AFG vs ZIM 1st Test Dream11 Prediction | Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 1st Test Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

In a world where the top sides play each other so often that inequality on the Test circuit exists, a new rivalry has the chance to develop in the game’s most traditional format. Both teams are looking to make gains amid limited opportunities, but the stories of Afghanistan and Zimbabwe are quite the contrast over the past 15 years.

After the glory days of the late 1990s and early 2000s, Zimbabwe went into Test exile from 2005 to 2011, with financial and political issues continuing to hamper the country’s cricketing prospects. During that period, Afghanistan won the ICC World Cricket League Division Five in 2008, defeating Jersey in the Final. In contrast to Zimbabwe’s decline, Afghanistan’s rise has been heartening, with two Test victories to their name and a number of T20 stars around the world, 13 years later.

So, in this intriguing Test series, who will hold their nerve better? Can Zimbabwe, who won’t have to deal with Rashid Khan in this Test due to injury, display the patience and grit required to win in the UAE? Or will Afghanistan have too much know-how in these conditions, even without Rashid Khan?

Where can you watch the Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe Test series?

• RTA Sport – Afghanistan
• Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) TV – Zimbabwe
• Freesports – UK/Europe
• FanCode – India (Live Streaming)
• Rabbithole YouTube Channel – Rest of the World

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Afghanistan:

• Rahmat Shah is undoubtedly Afghanistan’s most solid batsman. He is the only Afghan with a Test century, and comes into this series off the back of an ODI century against Ireland in January.
• 19-year old Ibrahim Zadran faced 388 balls in his first two Test matches, back in 2019. If he shows that same application here, he has the potential to score big.
• Asghar Afghan is Afganistan’s Test captain once again. He has scored three half-centuries in four Tests, and is only behind Rahmat for the most Test runs for Afghanistan (249, avg. 35.57).
• Expect Yamin Ahmadzai to bang away on a good length throughout the series. He has 10 wickets in his four Tests, only behind Rashid Khan for most wickets for Afghanistan.
• Amir Hamza, who took 5/79 on Test debut vs West Indies, has a superb First Class record. The left-arm orthodox spinner has 80 wickets in 14 FC matches at a superb average of 21.06. Key player.

Zimbabwe:

• The absence of Brendan Taylor and Craig Ervine puts the onus on Sean Williams to perform. The skipper has the third-most Test runs of any Zimbabwe squad member (770, avg. 33.47). He will want to improve on his numbers in Asia (176 runs, avg. 29.33).
• Prince Masvaure has the potential to set a platform for Zimbabwe. He has faced 695 balls in his five Tests to date, with two half-centuries.
• Tarisai Musakanda was in superb form in Zimbabwe’s recent Regional Games in January. He scored 111 and 125 in two matches, as well as 108 in a First Class game in December.
• Sikandar Raza averages 36.92 with the bat in Asia (7 Tests, 517 runs). Also, he has 32 wickets to his name in his 15-Test career, but will be looking to improve on his bowling average of 58.30 in Asia.
• Blessing Muzarabani is set to play his first Test since returning to the Zimbabwe team. The tall pacer can extract some bounce off the placid Abu Dhabi surface. He and the spinners, namely Brandon Mavuta, will be key.

Stats and Facts

• This will be the first ever meeting between the two teams in Tests. Afghanistan and Zimbabwe have played in 25 ODIs, where Afghanistan have won 15. In nine T20Is, Afghanistan have won eight.
• Both Afghanistan and Zimbabwe have never played a Test at Abu Dhabi.
• Zimbabwe’s 15-man squad has more than double the First Class matches than Afghanistan’s 19-strong squad. Zimbabwe’s players have featured in 747 first-class matches while Afghanistan have played in just 356.

Possible Playing 11

Afghanistan: 1. Ibrahim Zadran, 2. Javed Ahmadi, 3. Rahmat Shah, 4. Hashmatullah Shahidi, 5. Asghar Afghan (c), 6. Nasir Jamal, 7. Afsar Zazai (wk), 8. Mohammed Saleem/Zahir Khan, 9. Amir Hamza 10. Yamin Ahmadzai 11. Sayed Shirzad

Zimbabwe: 1. Prince Masvaure, 2. Tarisai Musakanda, 3. Wesley Madhevere, 4. Ryan Burl, 5. Sean Williams (c), 6. Sikandar Raza, 7. Regis Chakabva/Richmond Mutumbami (wk), 8. Donald Tiripano, 9. Brandon Mavuta, 10. Blessing Muzarabani 11. Victor Nyauchi/Wellington Mazakadza

Sheikh Zayed Stadium Abu Dhabi Pitch Report and Weather

The Abu Dhabi track is usually placid for the first few days, before it takes more turn in the final stages of the match. This ground has played host to matches that have exploded into life in the final couple of days, as the pitch wears more. The average 1st inns (match) score is 364, and the team batting 2nd has won just once in Abu Dhabi (D4, L8).

It is winter in the UAE, but temperatures will hover around 30 degrees with total sunshine. So, expect the pitch to take more spin as the game goes on.

Dream11 Prediction

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Match Prediction

Afghanistan in these conditions, even without Rashid Khan, look tough for Zimbabwe to beat. The absence of Brendan Taylor and Craig Ervine could be more damaging for Zimbabwe than Rashid Khan for Afghanistan.