Published on: Oct 29, 2025 5:00 pm IST | Updated on: Oct 30, 2025 2:53 pm IST
Zimbabwe secured a famous win in the one-off Test match against Afghanistan by an innings and 73 runs. Afghanistan’s tour to Zimbabwe has now turned into the shortest format of the game as both teams are all set to lock horns in a 3-match T20I series starting from October 29 at the Harare Sports Club in Harare. All the games of this series will be played in Harare. In this post, we have come up with free expert tips for the 1st T20I Match ZIM vs AFG at the Harare Sports Club, Harare.
Afghanistan’s recent T20I form has been poor. They secured only a solitary win in the Asia Cup 2025, that too against Hong Kong China, and missed out on the Super 4 stage. A disappointing Asia Cup followed up by a 0-3 drubbing against Bangladesh in Sharjah. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, is heading into this series on the back of winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Final. Therefore, their form is top-notch and the win probability meter will lean towards them in this match. Let’s continue with the post and find out the best cricket tips for the 1st T20I Match ZIM vs AFG at the Harare Sports Club, Harare.
ZIM: 56% win chance AFG: 44% win chance
The exciting left-hand opener of Zimbabwe has amassed 482 runs so far from his last 10 T20I knocks. He will be a prime bet up the order.
Besides Bennett, Marumani in recent times has been among the runs for Zimbabwe. He has scored368 runs from the last 10 T20I innings.
Whether its with the bat or with the ball, Azmatullah omarzai packs a punch. He is the premier all-rounder in the side and the spotlight would be on him with both bat and ball.
Perhaps the only batter in the Afghan side who plays responsibly. Zadran has amassed 275 runs from his last 10 innings.
Check out our prediction for the ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I match at the Harare Sports Club, Harare.
Zimbabwe will be brimming with confidence as they prepare to host Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series starting October 29 in Harare. Fresh off an unbeaten run in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Final, the hosts have momentum, form, and home conditions working in their favor.
The Harare Sports Club has traditionally offered a balanced surface, but Zimbabwe’s familiarity with the venue gives them a tactical edge. Their batters have shown intent and consistency, while the bowling unit, especially the spinners, has been instrumental in controlling games during the middle overs. Players like Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, Brendan Taylor, and Blessing Muzarabani have been pivotal in Zimbabwe’s recent success and will be key figures in this series.
Zimbabwe’s recent performances suggest they’re ready to meet that challenge head-on. With crowd support and winning rhythm behind them, the hosts should relish the opportunity to assert dominance in this series and prepare well for next year’s ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Afghanistan will need to significantly raise their batting standards if they hope to stay competitive in the ongoing T20I series against Zimbabwe. Known for their explosive stroke-makers, Afghanistan’s top order has struggled to convert starts into match-winning scores in recent outings. Against a confident Zimbabwean side thriving in home conditions, half-measures won’t be enough.
The likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Hazratullah Zazai, and Mohammad Nabi must take charge and inject momentum early in the innings. Afghanistan’s strength lies in aggressive intent, but they’ll need to balance that with smart shot selection and partnerships. Zimbabwe’s bowlers, especially their spinners, have been effective in choking run flow and forcing errors—something Afghanistan must counter with calculated aggression.
Middle-order stability and death-over acceleration will be key. If Afghanistan can post or chase totals in excess of 170 consistently, they’ll give their bowlers a fighting chance. Otherwise, Zimbabwe’s form and familiarity with conditions could overwhelm them. The series is still open, but Afghanistan must up the ante with the bat to avoid slipping further behind. Let’s move ahead and check the cricket tips.
Matches Played: 18 ZIM won: 2 AFG won: 16 No Result: 0 RECENT form ZIMBABWE: W W W W W RECENT form AFGHANISTAN: L L L L L
Zimbabwe and Afghanistan’s head-to-head record in T20Is has been sheerly dominated by Afghanistan. The Afghans have won 16 out of the 18 games, whereas Zimbabwe has registered only 2 wins.
How will the two teams, i.e., Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan, fare in the first T20I in Harare? Let’s take a look.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (C), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Sharafuddin Ashraf
Brendan Taylor (WK), Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Sikandar Raza (C), Clive Madande, Ryan Burl, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza/Dion Myers, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Graeme Cremer
Here’s the pitch and weather report for the 1st T20I between Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan at the Harare Sports Club, Harare:
At Harare Sports Club, the team winning the toss is likely to bat first. The pitch tends to slow down as the game progresses, making chasing difficult. With spinners expected to dominate the middle overs, setting a target around 160 could be ideal. Expect both captains to favor batting first.
The online live streaming of the 1st T20I match of the Afghanistan Tour of Zimbabwe will take place live on the FanCode app. The live TV coverage for this series won’t be available in India.
Although Afghanistan has dominated Zimbabwe in the shortest format of the game, Afghanistan’s recent form in this format has been off track. Zimbabwe now boasts a squad full of experienced players, and playing at home makes their case of winning this game even stronger. Zimbabwe will look to take advantage of Afghanistan’s lackluster form and secure a win in this game. Therefore, as per our prediction, the hosts, Zimbabwe, are expected to win the ZIM vs AFG 1st T20I match and go 1-0 up in this series.