Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan: Zimbabwe and Afghanistan face off in the 1st Test of the two-match series at the iconic Queens Sports Club. With both teams eager to gain momentum, this clash promises an exciting contest. While Zimbabwe aims to break their winless streak in Tests, Afghanistan looks to build on their recent progress in the longest format.
Match Details
| Match | 1st Test, Afghanistan in Zimbabwe, 2-Test Series, 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo |
| Date & Time | Thursday, 26th December, 13:30 (Local Time) |
Pitch Report
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, is known for its balanced surface that offers assistance to bowlers early on but gradually becomes favorable for batting. Teams bowling first have enjoyed significant success here, winning 12 out of the 25 matches played.Thundery showers are expected throughout the match, which could lead to frequent interruptions.
Pitch Stats at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Total Matches Played: 25
- Batting First Won: 4
- Batting Second Won: 12
- Drawn: 9
| Innings | Average Score |
|---|---|
| 1st Innings | 309 |
| 2nd Innings | 370 |
| 3rd Innings | 252 |
| 4th Innings | 194 |
Head-to-Head
| Team | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| Afghanistan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
Last Five Meetings
- 10-Mar-2021: Afghanistan won by 6 wickets
- 02-Mar-2021: Zimbabwe won by 10 wickets
Form Guide
Zimbabwe: L,L,D,L,L
Afghanistan: W,L,L,L,A
Team News
Zimbabwe
Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza remain pivotal for Zimbabwe in the batting and bowling departments, while Blessing Muzarabani leads their bowling attack.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan has included four uncapped players for this series, signaling a mix of youth and experience. Rashid Khan will lead their bowling, with Rahmat Shah expected to anchor the batting lineup.
Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan Playing 11
Zimbabwe Playing XI:
Craig Ervine (c), Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Dion Myers, Sean Williams, Joyland Gumbie, Brian Bennett, Sikandar Raza, Brandon Mavuta, Trevor Gwandu, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani
Afghanistan Playing XI:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Riaz Hussain, Sediqullah Atal, Rashid Khan, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Zahir Khan, Yasmin Ahmadzai, Zia-ur-Rehman, Naveed Zadran, Fareed Malik
Fantasy XI
Batters: Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Rahmat Shah
All-Rounders: Sikandar Raza (c), Azmatullah Omarzai
Bowlers: Blessing Muzarabani, Rashid Khan (vc), Zahir Khan
Wicketkeeper: Ikram Alikhil
Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan Prediction
Afghanistan holds the upper hand with a stronger bowling lineup, but Zimbabwe’s home conditions and experience could lead to a closely fought contest.
Prediction: Afghanistan to win narrowly.
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