![Zimbabwe predicted XI vs Afghanistan, 1st T20I [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1793019289016_ZimbabweT20I.jpg?type=hq)
Zimbabwe predicted XI vs Afghanistan, 1st T20I [Source: AFP]
Zimbabwe’s tour of the UAE moves to the T20Is after the end of ODI tri-series that ended on October 23, with Afghanistan clinching the trophy. Zimbabwe will look to avenge their final defeat in Sharjah, as the match commences on October 27 at 8 PM (IST).
The three T20Is will be played from October 27 to November 1 in Sharjah, and as the teams prepare themselves for the first clash of the series, here’s a look at Zimbabwe’s predicted playing XI.
Top Order: Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Innocent Kaia
Zimbabwe’s talisman with the bat will be Brian Bennett, who has been making a name for himself since the World Cup 2026. He has 2129 runs in the format with a strike rate of 142.50 and 12 fifties.
Bennett will be paired with Ben Curran, who made his T20I debut earlier this year during India’s tour of Zimbabwe. Curran is closing on 1000 runs in T20s, with 26 more needed.
The 34-year-old Innocent Kaia is back into the national team setup in 2026. Much like Curran, Kaia is also inching closer to 1000 run landmark in T20 cricket, although the player would like to improve his strike rate of 115.51.
Middle Order and All-Rounders: Wessly Madhevere, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Brad Evans
The top order will be followed by spin-bowling all-rounders in Wessly Madhevere and the captain, Sikandar Raza. Both can play interchangeably at number 4 and 5 according to situations and provide an off-spin bowling option.
Madhevere has 1345 T20I runs with 7 fifties to go with 19 wickets in 87 matches, while Raza has 3244 runs in 144 T20Is alongside 114 wickets.
Ryan Burl will be one of the finishers, with over 2200 T20I runs as an experienced campaigner with 129 T20Is to his name. He can also bowl leg-break and has 62 T20I wickets at a good economy rate of just over 7 runs per over.
The wicketkeeping duties will be done by Tadiwanashe Marumani. Marumani has been around for some time and is close to 1500 T20I runs after 78 T20Is at a strike rate of 129.96 with 7 fifties.
The long batting will end with allrounder Brad Evans, who strikes at 135.47 after 27 T20I innings, scoring 317 runs and is a valuable pace bowling asset with 63 wickets to his name.
Bowlers: Newman Nyamhuri, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani
20-year-old left-arm quick Newman Nyamhuri, who made his debut in 2024 is also back in the team after a while and has played 7 T20Is so far. In Richard Ngarava's abseence, Nyamhuri is looking to make a mark and cement his place in the senior team. He has 18 wickets in 19 T20 matches played so far, conceding 8.14 runs per over.
The lead spinner for the match will be the experienced Wellington Masakadza. In his 83-match T20I career, Masakadza has picked 50 wickets at a very good economy rate of 7.53 with his left-arm orthodox bowling. He can chip in with a few runs at the end if required as well.
Blessing Muzarabani will lead the bowling attack with his right-arm pace bowling with his experience of playing around the world. So far, he has 117 T20I wickets in 99 matches and the first T20I against Afghanistan will make him only the third Zimbabwe player to play 100 T20I matches.
Zimbabwe's Playing XI vs Afghanistan- 1st T20I, 2026
Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Innocent Kaia, Wessly Madhevere, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani.
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