With the white-ball series done and dusted, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will now play a two-match ZIM vs AFG Test series against each other. The much-awaited first ZIM vs AFG Test will be played from Thursday (December 26) at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo.
Earlier on the ongoing tour, Afghanistan played 3 T20Is and as many ODIs against Zimbabwe. The ZIM vs AFG tour started on a losing note for the visitors as they lost the first T20I by 4 wickets. However, they bounced back and won the next two games to clinch the series.
In the ODI series, Zimbabwe were no match for Afghanistan. After rain washed out the first ODI, Afghanistan thrashed the home side by 232 runs in the second game. In the third game, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 8 wickets to clinch the series 2-0.
With both Afghanistan and Zimbabwe eyeing a winning start in the Test series, here is a preview of the game.
ZIM vs AFG Match Preview – 1st Test, Afghanistan tour of Zimbabwe 2024-25:
ZIM vs AFG 1st Test, Date and Venue:
The first Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan Test is scheduled to be played from Thursday (December 26). The venue for the game is Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo.
Squads:
Zimbabwe:
Craig Ervine (captain), Ben Curran, Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Takudzwa Chataira, Joylord Gumbie, Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brandon Mavuta, Nyasha Mayavo, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams
Afghanistan:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (VC), Ikram Alikhail (WK), Afsar Zazai (WK), Riaz Hassan, Sediqullah Atal, Zahir Khan, Zia Ur Rehman Akbar, Zahir Shehzad, Rashid Khan, Abdul Malik, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Ismat Alam, Azmatullah Omarzai, Yamin Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad Afghan, Naveed Zadran, Fareed Ahmad Malik, and AM Ghazanfar.
ZIM vs AFG Key Battles
AM Ghazanfar vs Sean Williams:
Sean Williams has a brilliant record against Zimbabwe in Tests. The senior batsman holds the record for scoring the most runs in the Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe Tests. In the two Tests that he has played against Afghanistan so far, Williams has scored 264 runs including 2 centuries.
Williams will be looking to replicate the same performance in the upcoming series as well. He could make a big difference in the series and Afghanistan will be relying on their spinner AM Ghazanfar to stop the Zimbabwe batsman. In the recent ODI series, Ghazanfar picked up 9 wickets including a 5-wicket haul in the third game.
Richard Ngarava vs Sediqullah Atal:
Sediqullah Atal looked in brilliant form in the ODI series against Zimbabwe. After the first game was washed out, he scored 104 runs in the second ODI. In the third ODI, he scored 52 runs and finished the series as the highest run-scorer.
With form on his side, Atal will be eyeing more success in the first Test. Zimbabwe will be hoping that the Afghanistan opener does not score big and will be relying on their fast bowler Richard Ngarava to send him back.
Hashmatullah Shahidi vs Sikandar Raza:
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi will be looking to lead his team from the front. A reliable middle-order batsman, Shahidi has already scored a double century against Zimbabwe in Tests and will be looking to live up to the expectations in the upcoming Test as well.
Zimbabwe will be hoping that their senior allrounder Sikandar Raza does not let Shahidi score big. A handy off-spinner Raza can cause a lot of trouble for Shahidi who is a left-handed batsman.
ZIM vs AFG Key Players
ZIM – Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza, and Richard Ngarava will be the key players for Zimbabwe.
AFG – Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, AM Ghazanfar, and Fareed Ahmed will be the key players for Afghanistan.
Conclusion:
Both Zimbabwe and Afghanistan will be looking to start the Test series on a winning note. While the momentum is definitely with Afghanistan following their win in the T20I and ODI series, the home conditions are with Zimbabwe and they will be looking to make the most of it.