Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI 2024: What is the pitch report of the Harare Sports Club?

New Delhi: Zimbabwe and Afghanistan will be playing the second ODI and the first official match of the ODI series (the first one being washed away due to rain) on 19th December 2024.

What is the pitch report of the Harare Sports Club?

The 2nd ODI between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan will be a morning game. Naturally, there will be a lot of lateral movement for the bowlers of both teams early on. Moreover, a fresh wicket will be a paradise of swing and seam for pacers especially with the wicket holding onto the moisture. For the pacers, it’s going to be a brilliant surface to bowl on.

Zimbabwe’s top order had no clue against the moving ball last time, and if their openers don’t survive the first few overs, it could be deja vu.

But here’s the catch, once the early moisture dries up, the track at Harare starts behaving like a completely different beast. By the afternoon, it becomes a batter’s paradise. The ball starts coming onto the bat nicely, and stroke-makers can let loose.

That said, there’s still something in it for the spinners. While it won’t turn square, the slower bowlers can exploit the surface during the middle overs. Someone like Rashid Khan could have a field day if he finds his rhythm.

The toss could end up being the most crucial moment of the game. History shows that chasing teams have the upper hand at Harare. Add to that the overcast conditions and the toss-winning captain will likely opt to bowl first, hoping their bowlers can make early inroads.

Squads of both teams

Zimbabwe Squad

Ben Curran, Tadiwanashe Marumani(wicket-keeper), Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Craig Ervine(captain), Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Newman Nyamhuri, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu, Joylord Gumbie, Wellington Masakadza, Tashinga Musekiwa, Victor Nyauchi, Tinotenda Maposa

Afghanistan Squad

Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(captain), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil(wicket-keeper), Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveed Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Gulbadin Naib, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Mohammad Ishaq, Bilal Sami, Nangeyalia Kharote