ZIMBABWE and Afghanistan clash this morning at the Harare Sports Club in the first of a three-match T20 International series, a contest that pits the hosts’ recent Test-match euphoria against Afghanistan’s historical dominance in the shortest format.
Zimbabwe rides a high wave of confidence following their resounding innings and 73-run victory in the one-off Test last week.
However, the switch to T20I cricket presents a markedly different challenge.
Afghanistan, ranked a place above the Chevrons at 10th in the world, have been a perennial thorn in Zimbabwe’s side, boasting a commanding 16-2 head-to-head record in this format and remaining unbeaten across all T20I series against the hosts.
For captain Sikandar Raza, as he stated, the focus is squarely on World Cup preparation:
“The mood in the camp is pretty bubbly and lively. Zimbabwe is coming off some beautiful results,” Raza said.
“So the mood, rightly so, is very positive and everything that we do now suddenly leads up to the World Cup... every series that we play now is certainly going to play a huge role in getting the combinations right and the roles clarity as well.”
The hosts welcome a significant inclusion with the return of former captain, leg-spinner Graeme Cremer, who is making a sensational comeback to international cricket after a seven-year hiatus.
- Artuz defiant on stay-aways
- Artuz leader Masaraure up for murder
- Zim suffers series defeat
- Health talk: Be wary of measles, its a deadly disease
Keep Reading
His experience is a vital addition, as highlighted by Raza: “With Graeme Cremer’s addition, he brings wealth of experience, a great guy to have in the changing room... he ticks all the right boxes to be in the changing room and we’re all very happy for him to be there.”
For Zimbabwe, this series is crucial for fine-tuning combinations, especially after securing T20 World Cup qualification.
The desire for a maiden series win against their Asian opponents will fuel their charge.
Despite the Test defeat, Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott is focused on a winning return in the format they prefer, also with an eye on the bigger picture—the T20 World Cup.
“The approach going into the series, obviously, is to win,” he said.
“That’s the most important thing... and teach winning cricket and that starts tomorrow.”
The series also provides an invaluable opportunity for the Asian side to adapt their game away from the familiar conditions of the UAE, helping their players grow and find the right combinations for the global tournament.
Trott sees it as a great opportunity for players to learn playing T20 cricket in different conditions, away from home.
With the momentum of the Test win powering Zimbabwe and the T20 pedigree of Afghanistan, the series opener promises a fascinating contest between two sides looking to make an early statement in their road to the World Cup.
