Zadran Leads Afghanistan’s Charge, Eyeing Series Sweep with Batting First
In an exciting conclusion to the T20I series, Afghanistan opted to bat first against Zimbabwe in Harare. The match marked the third game of the series, during which Afghanistan aimed for a clean sweep.
Zadran at the Helm
Ibrahim Zadran captained the Afghan side as they sought to decisively end the series. He stepped in as captain for the rested Rashid Khan, bringing a fresh perspective to the team. Alongside Zadran, all-rounder Sharafuddin Ashraf and left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi were included in the final XI.
Team Changes
Afghanistan’s squad saw the absence of Azmatullah Omarzai, which opened up opportunities for new faces in the lineup. The revised team consisted of:
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
- Ibrahim Zadran (capt)
- Sediqullah Atal
- Darwish Rasooli
- Shahidullah Kamal
- Sharafuddin Ashraf
- Mohammad Nabi
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
- Fareed Ahmad Malik
- Abdullah Ahmadzai
Zimbabwe’s Lineup
Zimbabwe also made adjustments to their team in hopes of finishing the series strong. Clive Madande replaced Tony Munyonga in the batting order. The Zimbabwean team consisted of:
- Brian Bennett
- Dion Myers
- Brendan Taylor (wk)
- Sikandar Raza (capt)
- Ryan Burl
- Tashinga Musekiwa
- Clive Madande
- Brad Evans
- Wellington Masakadza
- Tinotenda Maposa
- Richard Ngarava
The absence of veteran player Graeme Cremer throughout the series has been notable, as he has not played a match in over seven years.
As the match unfolded, Afghanistan’s decision to bat first was a strategic move aimed at setting a high target. This approach was critical for securing the series whitewash against Zimbabwe.
