Sean Williams’ side will also want to prove a point, as they will not feature in this year’s T20 World Cup.
Big picture
After a series of tough tests where the honors were shared, the focus in Abu Dhabi will shift to the three T20Is that Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will play within four days.
In addition to the general goal of winning the series, the goals of the two teams with the bigger picture in mind will be very different. Afghanistan will try to consolidate their strongest team looking ahead to the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup scheduled for India later this year. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will not be taking part in the World Cup, as they have not taken part in the qualifying event since their table was suspended at that time. They will try to show what event the tent will miss if they are not there.
One thing that goes the way of Zimbabwe – they are ranked 12th compared to their opponents’ 9th – that visa issues could force Afghanistan to play without their strongest XI. Five of their players – including Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Gulbadin Naib – are yet to arrive in the UAE, which forced the selectors to revisit their squad with players who were around from the Test series who were not. complaint for the T20Is.
In nine previous T20I meetings between the two sides, Zimbabwe have only one win. And they have lost all five of their T20Is in 2020. But they will be hungry to prove a point without World Cup action to look ahead, and a weak side of Afghanistan could be the scales heavily balanced. If they can keep Rashid Khan quiet, they may stand a good chance.
Form instructions
(Last five games completed, most recent first)
AfghanistanLWWWW
Zimbabwe LLLLL
In mind
Starting after an 11-wicket match in the second Test, Rashid Khan remains the No. 1 weapon of Afghanistan in shape. In the past 12 months, he has averaged 48 wick T20s at 18.85 while admitting only 6.14 overs. These are big numbers but he has done even better in his 16 matches in the UAE, with an average of 17.20 and an economy rating of 5.37. With two global tournaments approaching, Afghanistan could be lured to make more use of his great skills as well, so don’t be surprised if he gets a bat boost.
Zimbabwe’s bats could face a tough time against the spinners, but their bowlers could also cause some problems, especially with Blessing of Muzarabani leading the attack. In his nine T20Is, the high-scoring ball has taken two or more wickets six times, including the top 3 for 21 against Australia against Australia.
Team news
The visa issue could force Afghanistan to go to XI which looks very different from the one that appeared in their last white ball tour earlier in the year.
Afghanistan (possibly): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 2 Usman Ghani, 3 Karim Janat, 4 Afghan Asghar (capt), 5 Mohammad Nabi, 6 Najibullah Zadran, 7 Afsar Zazai (wk), 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Naveen Ul Haq, 10 Amir Hamza, 11 Fareed Ahmad.
Zimbabwe (possibly): 1 Prince Masvaure, 2 Tinashe Kamunhukamwe / Kevin Kasuza, 3 Wesley Madhevere, 4 Sean Williams (capt), 5 Sikandar Raza, 6 Ryan Burl, 7 Milton Shumba, 8 Regis Chakabva (wk), 9 Donald Tiripano, 10 Wellington Masakadza, 11 Blessing of Muzarabani.
Park and conditions
The pitch in Abu Dhabi is expected to be good for going under lights, although the big boundaries could keep an eye on all six. It should be a warm, dry evening.
Stats and trivia
- The last time these two teams met in a T20I match, in Chattogram in 2019, Zimbabwe defeated Afghanistan for the first time in nine attempts.
- Rashid is six wikis away from being the seventh (and fourth spinner) to take 350 wikis in the form.
- If he gets 28, Sean Williams will overtake Elton Chigumbura (893 runs) and Brendan Taylor (909) to become the second highest T20I runner in Zimbabwe behind Hamilton Masakadza (1662).
Sreshth Shah is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo