Zimbabwe Playing XI vs Afghanistan- 1st T20I, Afghanistan Tour of Zimbabwe 2025
Published - 29 Oct 2025, 02:00 PM
Table of Contents
Zimbabwe will take on Afghanistan in the first game of the three-match T20I series, which is a part of Afghanistan's tour of Zimbabwe 2025. This article provides details about Zimbabwe's Playing 11 vs Afghanistan for the first T20I.
Zimbabwe Playing XI vs Afghanistan- 1st T20I, Afghanistan Tour of Zimbabwe 2025:
Openers: Brian Bennett, Dion Myers
Zimbabwe would want to continue the good form that the team has shown in the last couple of assignments in T20I cricket, which includes wins against Namibia in a bilateral series and in the final of the T20 World Cup Africa qualifiers.
The Sikandae Raza-led side will now take on Afghanistan, against whom it has a rather disappointing record with two wins in 18 games.
The home side would want to improve that when they step on the field in the series opener on Wednesday (October 29).
For that to happen, Zimbabwe would bank on their openers to come good and provide a solid start to the team.
Along with laying a good platform, the opening duo of Brian Benett and Dion Myers would look to get runs under their belt individually as well.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Clive Madande, Brendan Taylor (wk), Sikandar Raza (c), Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brad Evans
If we talk about the middle order, it comprises some experienced names like current captain Sikandar Raza, former Captain Brendon Taylor, who is expected to keep wickets as well, and promising batter Clive Madande.
All the names mentioned above are skilled enough to turn the match in the home team's favor if they get going, and the team management would hope that's exactly what happens against a strong Afghan bowling lineup.
Having said that, the onus will be on the experienced duo of Brendon Taylor and captain Sikanafae Raza to control things in the middle order, and for the other batters to support them.
Other than Raza and Taylor, fast bowling all-rounder Brad Evans can prove to be the dark horse in the batting department following his match-winning performance in the one-off Test against the same opposition.
Bowlers: Wellington Masakadza, Tinotenda Maposa, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava
When it comes to the bowling attack, the team will rely a lot on fast bowlers Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava.
The two pacers will have to take the responsibility and pick wickets in the initial few overs to make things easy for other bowlers.
Muzarabani and Ngarava will have Brad Evans for company, who will also look to replicate a similar performance that he delivered in the oldest format of the game.
The hosts are expected to go into the first T20I against Afghanistan with one specialist spinner in the form of Wellington Masakadza, who will be trusted to fulfill their role by keeping things tight in the middle overs.
Masakadza will be assisted by Sikandar Raza, who has proved to be more than handy with the ball in the middle overs on various occasions that he has bowled, and would look to do something similar against Afghanistan.
Tagged:
Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Afghanistan National Cricket Team Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe Sikandar Raza Rashid Khan
