ZIM vs IRE: Zimbabwe wins the toss to bowl first; Check playing XI for both the teams

Zimbabwe will be taking on Ireland for the 1st ODI today (on January 18) as the hosts have won the toss and opted to bowl first.

Andrew Balbirnie: We would have loved to bowl first. We gave a few new players opportunities and it was good to play in front of the packed crowds, hopefully it will be same in the ODIs. Josh Little, Lorcan Tucker, and Paul Stirling are in. We have a world cup at the end of the year and hopefully we will perform well and get good super league points.

Craig Ervine: We will have a bowl first. The pitch has been under the covers for a day or so, there will be a bit of moisture and the overhead conditions can help us. We expect the pitch to get a litttle bit better but there hasn’t been much sunshine, we expect it to get better as the game goes on. Sikandar Raza is back and Gary Ballance is also in. Tendai Chatara has been rested and Victor Nyauchi is in.

Ireland (Playing XI): Paul Stirling, Stephen Doheny, Andrew Balbirnie(c), Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Lorcan Tucker(w), Andy McBrine, Mark Adair, Graham Hume, Joshua Little

Zimbabwe (Playing XI): Wesley Madhevere, Innocent Kaia, Craig Ervine(c), Gary Ballance, Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, Clive Madande(w), Wellington Masakadza, Brad Evans, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi