ZIMBABWE is gearing up to host Afghanistan in a highly anticipated one-off Test match beginning next Monday, October 20, at the Harare Sports Club.
This red-ball clash marks a significant return to the capital for Test cricket and kicks off a short tour that will also feature three T20 Internationals, all at the same venue.
The Test will be the fifth ever meeting in the longest format between the two competitive sides, building on a rivalry that has seen keenly contested matches in recent years.
Zimbabwe holds a single victory over their Asian counterparts — a convincing 10-wicket win inside two days in their inaugural Test in Abu Dhabi in March 2021.
However, the more recent encounters have swung in Afghanistan’s way.
The two nations locked horns earlier this year in a two-match series in Bulawayo, which was part of a broader tour spanning late December and early January.
After a hard-fought draw in the first Test on Boxing Day, Afghanistan secured a 72-run victory in the second match, a result that will no doubt fuel the Chevrons’ desire for revenge on home soil.
This one-off Test marks the 10th for the Chevrons in a busy 2025 calendar.
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While their itinerary has included tough assignments against powerhouses such as England, South Africa, and New Zealand — all resulting in defeats — they did manage to share the spoils in a two-match series during their tour of Bangladesh earlier in the year.
The Test will also see the return of red-ball cricket to the Harare Sports Club for the first time since 2021, with Zimbabwe’s recent home Tests having been played in Bulawayo.
Fans are eager to welcome back the action to the capital.
While the hosts are yet to announce their official squad, the team is expected to be bolstered by the return of key Test players who missed the recent T20 World Cup qualifiers.
Captain Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Ben Curran and Tawanda Chivanga are all anticipated to be back in the fold.
Veteran Brendan Taylor is also tipped to make the team, alongside promising domestic performers like Tafadzwa Tsiga and Brad Evans.
All eyes, however, will be on former captain and experienced spinner Graeme Cremer, who has been in red-hot form on the domestic circuit following his return to competitive cricket.
His selection could provide a crucial spin option.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan named their 15-man Test squad yesterday, with Hashmatullah Shahidi set to lead the side.
Star leg-spinner Rashid Khan has been strategically rested for the Test as a precautionary measure to manage his workload ahead of upcoming international events, though he will return to captain the T20I side.
The Afghan selectors have rewarded domestic form by including new faces in the Test squad, notably right-arm pacer Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, left-arm spinner Sharafuddin Ashraf, and leg-spinner Khalil Gurbaz.
Left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Shahidullah Kamal also finds a spot in both the Test and T20I rosters.
The Afghanistan side will also be without experienced batter Rahmat Shah, who has been ruled out of the tour with a calf injury.
Following the Test, the focus will shift immediately to the three T20Is scheduled for October 29, 31 and November 2.
These matches will serve as vital preparation for the T20 World Cup, providing both nations with a crucial opportunity to fine-tune their short-format skills.
The stage is set for a gripping week of Test cricket.
