Zimbabwe Hosts First Boxing Day Test in 28 Years Against Afghanistan
For the first time in 28 years, Zimbabwe will play a Boxing Day Test, marking a historic moment for cricket in the country. The Queen’s Sports Club in Bulawayo will host the two-Test series opener against Afghanistan, offering fans a rare spectacle. While Melbourne and Centurion are often the focus of Boxing Day action, Bulawayo’s match promises its own drama as two determined teams battle to end their long winless runs in the format.
Both Zimbabwe and Afghanistan haven’t tasted Test success since 2021, and intriguingly, their last victories came against each other. This series presents a chance for redemption, with both sides looking to build a foundation for the future. With numerous debutants likely to feature—potentially up to 15 across both teams—this series could be a turning point for their respective cricketing journeys.
Experienced Players Steadying the Ship
Zimbabwe will lean on seasoned campaigners like Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, and Blessing Muzarabani. These players bring stability to a squad that features new faces, including Ben Curran, who has shown promise in domestic cricket.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, will look to captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah for consistency. However, they will miss the services of Rashid Khan, who withdrew for personal reasons after initially recovering from an injury. Teenage spinner AM Ghazanfar has been added to the squad and is poised to make his Test debut.
Recent Form
Both teams enter the series on a poor run of form in Test cricket:
- Zimbabwe: LLDLL
- Afghanistan: ALLLW
Spotlight on Emerging Talent
For Zimbabwe, Ben Curran, the middle brother of England internationals Tom and Sam Curran, brings an exciting dimension to the batting lineup. Curran has impressed domestically with an average of 74.14 in the Logan Cup, but he will aim to find his footing at the international level after a challenging ODI series against Afghanistan.
On the Afghan side, 18-year-old AM Ghazanfar could be a game-changer. Despite his youth and lack of first-class experience, his recent performances in white-ball cricket have made headlines. His ability to dismantle batting lineups was on display during Afghanistan’s recent ODIs against Zimbabwe, where he took eight wickets in two games.
Probable Lineups
Zimbabwe: Joylord Gumbie (wk), Ben Curran, Dion Myers, Craig Ervine (capt), Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell / Brandon Mavuta, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri.
Afghanistan: Ikram Alikhil (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Azmatullah Omarzai, Bahir Shah / Riaz Hassan, Zia-ur-Rehman, Zahir Khan, Fareed Ahmed, Naveed Zadran, AM Ghazanfar.
Conditions and Challenges
Bulawayo’s pitch typically offers assistance to seamers early on, with spinners likely coming into play as the match progresses. However, weather could overshadow the action, with rain and thunderstorms forecast every day, particularly in the afternoon.
Key Stats and Trivia
- Zimbabwe has lost six of their last seven Tests, drawing the other.
- The Queen’s Sports Club hasn’t witnessed a Zimbabwe Test win since April 2001.
- AM Ghazanfar could become Afghanistan’s eighth teenage Test debutant.
- This match marks Afghanistan’s first-ever Boxing Day Test appearance.
The Road Ahead
The series kicks off on December 26, with both teams eager to make their mark. While the weather remains a concern, fans will be hoping for competitive cricket and perhaps even a glimpse into the future stars of both nations. With pride and a rare win on the line, this Boxing Day Test could deliver an unexpected highlight in the festive cricket calendar.
