Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi chose to field first after winning the toss in their match against Zimbabwe. Shahidi cited the new pitch and the potential for moisture in the morning as key factors influencing his decision. Afghanistan have made two changes to their lineup, with Bilal Sami making his debut and Fareed Ahmad Malik coming in.

Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine emphasized the importance of the first 10 overs for his side, hoping to set a solid foundation and capitalize on afternoon batting conditions. Zimbabwe have also made two changes to their team for the match.

The pitch report from Sikander Bakht and Darlington Matambanadzo suggested a dry surface with visible cracks. While early caution was advised for batters, the pitch is expected to play well for scoring as the game progresses.

Teams:

Afghanistan: Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (w), Bilal Sami, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Fareed Ahmad Malik.

Zimbabwe: Ben Curran, Tadiwanashe Marumani (w), Joylord Gumbie, Craig Ervine (c), Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Brian Bennett, Wellington Masakadza, Newman Nyamhuri, Richard Ngarava, Trevor Gwandu.