ZIMBABWE A cricket side will be out to burst the Afghanistan bubble when the two sides clash in the first four-day match at the Country Club in Harare today.
By Munyaradzi Madzokere
Afghanistan’s confidence is sky high in the aftermath of an extraordinary 2-2 ODI series draw with the Zimbabwe senior team, achieved through a convincing 100-run victory in the decider in Bulawayo last Thursday.
The two teams renew their rivalry after playing a stalemate in two warm up games arranged before the ODI series with the Usman Ghani inspired Asian country winning the first by a mere 16 runs before Zimbabwe drew level with a crushing seven wicket triumph.
A lot is expected from the Walter Chawaguta-coached developmental group, especially young Luke Jongwe who was impressive with the ball and scored a half century on his debut for the Zimbabwe A side against Afghanistan.
Captain Regis Chakabva, who was part of the dismal national side that embarrassingly drew with the Asian greenhorns, will be looking to continue with the form he exuded in the warm up matches.
Other players who could be decisive during the course of the four day long encounter are national team fringe players Richmond Mutumbami, Forster Mtizwa, Timycen Maruma as well as Tino Mutombodzi.
Bowlers such as Michael Chinouya, Lovemore Gumunyu Manatsa and Brian Mugochi will also be fighting to impress the new national team coach Stephen Mangongo, and make the team to face South Africa next month.
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Kabir Khan-coached Afghanistan need no introduction in Zimbabwe anymore as they are riding on a crest of their highest ODI series achievement to date, two consecutive victories against a Test playing nation let alone a 2-all series draw.
His charges have looked hungry for success ever since their tour of Zimbabwe began, taking turns to put up match winning performances especially with the bat.
Captain Mohammad Nabi, Samullah Shenwari, Usman Ghani, Javed Ahmad, wicketkeeper Shafiqullah Shafiq and company consistently combined to surpass the 250 mark each time they came out to bat in the ODI series.
The chief executive of the country’s cricket board Noor Muhammadz Murad even bragged to Reuters that they had rested a few seniors from the squad (for Zimbabwe) and put in a few new guys.
However, the fact that Afghanistan remain an associate side while Zimbabwe is a test playing country give the local development side an edge in the two four-day matches.
The second four-day match will be played from August 2 to 5.
