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Afghanistan will look to seal the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe when the sides meet in the second game at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE on Thursday, October 29. Afghanistan took a 1-0 lead after winning the series opener by 37 runs on October 27.
Ibrahim Zadran's side need one more win to wrap up the series with a match to spare. Zimbabwe, under Sikandar Raza, will aim to recover from their opening loss and level the contest to force a decider. The third T20I is scheduled to take place in Sharjah on Sunday, November 1.
Previously, Afghanistan opened their T20I series against Zimbabwe with a convincing 37-run victory in the first match in Sharjah at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday night.
Afghanistan posted 177 before dismissing the visitors for 140 in 19.1 overs to seal the match by 37 runs.
The second T20I between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will be played on Thursday, October 29. The match is scheduled to begin at 8 pm IST. The toss is scheduled for 7:30 pm IST.
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran (c), Sediqullah Atal, Mohammad Akram, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Shahidullah Kamal, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad. Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Innocent Kaia, Sikandar Raza (c), Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Ryan Burl, Wessly Madhevere, Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri, Wellington Masakadza, Ernest Masuku.
The Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe second T20I will not be televised live in India. However, fans can stream the match live on the FanCode app and website with an active subscription.
The Sharjah Cricket Stadium pitch is expected to assist bowlers who rely on slower deliveries and variations in pace. The surface has been slow and low during the tri-series, making it challenging for batters to time their shots, especially early in their innings. Spinners could become increasingly effective as the match progresses. Afghanistan have an advantage in this department, with Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi bringing experience and control to the middle overs. Zimbabwe's batters will need to handle the spin threat carefully and build their innings patiently.
Weather conditions in Sharjah are unlikely to disrupt the Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe second T20I, with the probability of rain forecast at just 5%. Temperatures are expected to hover around 31°C, accompanied by high humidity and north-northeasterly winds of 13 km/h. Cloud cover could reach 64%, but significant rainfall is unlikely. While the match is expected to proceed without weather interruptions, the humid conditions may test the players' stamina.