ZIM vs AFG Team Previews
Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwean squad has faced challenges in recent test matches, drawing one and losing four out of their last five games. For the upcoming Boxing Day test match, the team’s management has brought in seven new players. Among the new additions are batsmen Ben Curran and Jonathan Campbell. Nyasha Mayano and Tdiwanashe Marumani will serve as the new wicketkeepers for this match.
The squad also includes new pace bowlers Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwa Chataira, and Newman Myamhuri. Notably, Chataira, a young pacer, has been awarded his first cap. Ben Curran earned his place on the team due to his impressive performance in the Logan Cup, and he recently made his international debut in the opening ODI of the series against Afghanistan.
The team retains experienced players such as Sikandar Raza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, and Sean Williams. However, players who participated in Zimbabwe’s most recent test match against Ireland, including Clive Madande, Prince Masvaure, Roy Kaia, Tendai Chatara, and Victor Nyauchi, have been excluded from the roster for this match.
Zimbabwe Expected Playing 11
- Joylord Gumbie (WK)
- Ben Curran
- Craig Ervine (C)
- Sean Williams
- Sikandar Raza
- Brian Bennett
- Tadiwanashe Marumani
- Blessing Muzarabani
- Newman Nyamhuri
- Richard Ngarava
- Trevor Gwandu
Afghanistan
Rashid Khan, an all-rounder and talented leg-spinner from Afghanistan, has been selected as a member of the Afghan Test team for the upcoming match. However, he will not be available for selection due to personal reasons. This marks a significant return for Rashid, who last played for the Afghanistan Test team in 2021 before stepping away from Test cricket due to a groin injury.
The eight-member Afghanistan Test team, which includes seven new players in the Test format, will be captained by Hashmatullah Shahidi. Among the new players are left-arm seamer Bashir Ahmad and all-rounder Ismat Alam, both of whom have been rewarded for their strong performances in domestic cricket. Azmatullah Omarzai, Riaz Hassan, Sediqullah Atal, and Fareed Ahmad Malik are also uncapped players likely to make their Test debuts.
Although the previous game was washed out, these players have been selected for the Test match against New Zealand. In this match, look out for two of Afghanistan’s best batsmen: Rahmat Shah and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi. Shahidi has scored 485 runs in his last eight games, while Shah has accumulated 578 runs in his last nine. Yamin Ahmadzai is expected to lead the Afghan bowling attack, alongside Rashid Khan when available.
Afghanistan Expected Playing 11
- Sediqullah Atal
- Abdul Malik
- Rahmat Shah
- Hashmatullah Shahidi (C)
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Riaz Hassan
- Ikram Alikhil (WK)
- Zia ur Rahman
- Zahir Khan
- Fareed Ahmad
- Naveed Zadran
ZIM vs AFG Betting Tips
Afghanistan has easily won the ODI and T20 portions of this trip. In the Test match, we also don’t think they’ll have too much problems. Afghanistan is now well ahead of Zimbabwe in cricket, despite the fact that the record indicates some kind of matchup between these two sides.
Every vulnerability is shown in a Test match, and Zimbabwe has too many to overcome.
Place a wager for Afghanistan to prevail.
