Can Zimbabwe escape Afghanistan's ODI chokehold?

Big picture: Afghanistan bank on strong record against Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe would hope their 99-run win against Bangladesh will boost their confidence on Monday against Afghanistan, a team they haven't beaten in ODIs in eight years. Over their entire ODI history, Afghanistan have a 20-10 record against Zimbabwe.

Afghanistan come into this tri-series in excellent ODI form, having won their last series 4-0 away in Ireland. They also claimed a highly respectable drawn Test against Bangladesh last week, which should give some of their fringe performers positivity ahead of this tournament.

Afghanistan's experienced batting line-up greatly complements their spin attack. Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi will no doubt have a huge role to play against Zimbabwe, while AM Ghazanfar is becoming a consistent performer. Fazalhaq Farooqi is set to join Yamin Ahmadzai, who bowled his heart out in the one-off Test last week, as the new-ball pair.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran have established themselves as openers, while Sediqullah Atal and the rest of the middle-order have big knocks under their belt in recent times.

Zimbabwe come into this game following a rousing win in the tri-series opener. Craig Ervine and Brendan Taylor led with the bat like the veterans they are in a predominantly young team, joining forces with the scoreboard reading 24 for 3. Taylor was nonchalant in his approach during a pressure situation, defusing it with a flurry of boundaries. Ervine played the supporting role during their 150-run stand, before opening up towards the backend of the Zimbabwe innings.

The pacers Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans held their own despite Bangladesh starting off strongly. They began picking up wickets, and eventually Wellington Masakadza and captain Sikandar Raza came into the game too, with Raza completing 100 wickets in ODIs.

Form guide

Afghanistan WWWWL (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
Zimbabwe WLLLL

In the spotlight: Sediqullah Atal and Craig Ervine

Sediqullah Atal comes into this match on the back of an epic fourth-innings century that helped Afghanistan salvage a draw against Bangladesh. He batted for more than eight hours, facing more than 300 deliveries. Defending and leaving the ball had been the only things on his mind in that innings; now he has to revert to type, and show the white-ball shots and smarts he is amply equipped with.

Craig Ervine held Zimbabwe together with a 93 against Bangladesh, attacking their spinners with a wide range of shots including powerful reverse-sweeps. He will hope to bring the same skills and awareness to his contest against Afghanistan's spinners.

Team news - Rashid and Ibrahim return

Afghanistan are at full strength, with Rashid and Ibrahim Zadran back after being rested for the Test against Bangladesh.

Afghanistan (probable): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Sediqullah Atal, 4 Rahmat Shah (capt), 5 Hashmatullah Shahidi, 6 Azmatullah Omarzai, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 AM Ghazanfar, 10 Fazalhaq Farooqi, 11 Yamin Ahmadzai.

Zimbabwe are unlikely to change the XI that beat Bangladesh so comprehensively.

Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Brian Bennett, 2 Ben Curran, 3 Tafadzwa Tsiga, 4 Brendan Taylor (wk), 5 Craig Ervine, 6 Sikandar Raza (capt), 7 Wessley Madhevere, 8 Brad Evans, 9 Wellington Masakadza, 10 Newman Nyamhuri, 11 Blessing Muzarabani.

Pitch and conditions: Win toss, bat first

After the first match, Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza said the Abu Dhabi pitch had had "something for everyone". While the fast bowlers found a bit of movement and the spinners extracted slow turn, batting was largely straightforward. Winning the toss can be a significant advantage at the Zayed Stadium: the team batting first has won seven of the last eight ODIs played here. The weather is expected to be hot and humid.

Stats and trivia: Raza opens his account