Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

Ban T20 Tri-Series Match 5: AFG vs ZIM Preview Dream11 & MyTeam11 Prediction. Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe Preview Dream11 & MyTeam11

That’s it. Two teams have now been confirmed as finalists in the Bangladesh Tri-Series tournament, with two league matches still left to play.

Zimbabwe’s tough year has continued, as they will now play their final game of the Tri-Series. Their convincing defeat to Bangladesh, a week after they should have won the first match, was a disappointing performance in an important game. Now, they have the final chance to send Hamilton Masakadza out of international cricket as a winner as they sign off from Bangladesh.

To do so, they will have to get past an in-form Afghanistan team, whom they have never beaten in T20Is in eight attempts. The Afghans are on an incredible run overall, winning their past 12 T20Is, while looking the best team in this tournament so far. With two games to play until the Final, Afghanistan can look to further boost their form, with a few areas for improvement.

Also read: Will Rohit Sharma succeed as a Test opener?

Key to an Afghanistan win

Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi and Asghar Afghan have been irresistible in this Tri-Series so far. Afghanistan’s middle order trio have scored a total of 250 runs between them in two matches, off just 162 balls. With such force in the middle order, a great opportunity awaits the Afghanistan top order to lay a much better platform than they did last game against Bangladesh. Hazratullah Zazai has the chance to recover from his batting slump. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who was superb against Zimbabwe earlier this tournament, has the opportunity to show what he is made of again.

Also, Afghanistan’s spin attack has been brilliant. Mujeeb ur Rahman, with a classy four-wicket haul against Bangladesh, will be out to continue his form against a side that notoriously struggles against spin. The same applies to Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, forming a trio that has been central to Afghanistan’s outstanding run in T20Is. With the chance of rotating seamers, the reliability of Afghanistan’s spinners will play a key role.

Key to a Zimbabwe win

This is a dead-rubber but don’t tell that to Hamilton Masakadza. The Zimbabwean batsman, who made his international debut way back in 2001, has only threatened to go big in this series. 62 runs in three innings is not quite the return needed, especially considering Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams’ lack of form. Can Zimbabwe’s experienced top order get through the powerplay with flying colours, enabling the middle order to play with less pressure against Afghanistan’s spinners?

Also, Zimbabwe’s bowling is a concern. They went the distance against Bangladesh, after going the distance in their previous outing against Afghanistan. Their lack of consistency thanks to too many loose balls has hurt them this series, and if they are to send Hamilton Masakadza out a winner, the bowlers have to work better as a unit across all three stages of the innings. Is it time to bring Tendai Chatara back to boost the bowling stocks?

Possible Playing 11

Fast bowlers Dawlat Zadran and/or Naveen-ul-Haq could get a run for Afghanistan in this match.

Afghanistan: 1. Hazratullah Zazai, 2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3. Najeeb Tarakai, 4. Asghar Afghan, 5. Najibullah Zadran, 6. Mohammad Nabi, 7. Gulbain Naib, 8. Rashid Khan (c), 9. Karim Janat/Dawlat Zadran, 10. Fareed Ahmed, 11. Mujeeb ur Rahman

Richmond Mutumbami scored a nice fifty against Bangladesh which should keep him in the side. Craig Ervine had a bit of a niggle which forced him to miss the last game. It remains to be seen if he has recovered well enough. Also, Zimbabwe could look at recalling Tendai Chatara.

Zimbabwe: 1. Brendan Taylor (wk), 2. Hamilton Masakadaza (c), 3. Sean Williams, 4. Regis Chakabva/Craig Ervine, 5. Tinotenda Mutombodzi, 6. Ryan Burl, 7. Richmond Mutumbami, 8. Neville Madziva/Tendai Chatara, 9. Kyle Jarvis, 10. Ainsley Ndlovu, 11. Chris Mpofu

Pitch and Conditions

There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening in Chittagong. In regards to the pitch, the Bangladesh-Zimbabwe game saw batsmen, who were willing to assess conditions well, score runs.

Stats and Facts

• Hamilton Masakadza will retire as Zimbabwe’s most-capped T20I player (65). He is also their highest run-getter (1,566), with the next best, Elton Chigumbura, on 852.
• Mohammad Nabi, Asghar Afghan and Naijibullah Zadran have 250 runs between them off 162 balls in this Tri-Series.
• Hazratullah Zazai has not scored a fifty in his last 14 international innings.
• Afghanistan have won all eight T20Is against Zimbabwe. In all, they have won 12 straight T20Is.
• This match will be played on Rashid Khan’s birthday.

Fantasy Cricket Prediction

MyTeam11 (regular) Prediction: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Hamilton Masakdaza, Asghar Afghan, Najibullah Zadran, Sean Williams, Ryan Burl, Mohammad Nabi (c), Gulbadin Naib, Kyle Jarvis, Rashid Khan (vc), Mujeeb ur Rahman

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Match Prediction

Zimbabwe will do what they can to send Hamilton Masakadza out a winner. However, Afghanistan are on a great run and playing fine cricket in this format. They have the wood over Zimbabwe, and it should continue.

Thanks for reading!

Also read: Will Rohit Sharma succeed as a Test opener?