Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan, AFG vs ZIM 2024-25, Today Match Prediction 26 December 2024

ZIM vs AFG Match Prediction & Analysis

Zimbabwe will face Afghanistan in the opening match of the Test series played at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, starting from 26th December.

After losing the T20I and ODI series against Afghanistan, Host Zimbabwe will be looking to turn things around in red-ball cricket.  Skipper Craig Ervine will be hoping that the side can deliver the goods with bat and ball in this fixture.On the other hand, Afghanistan will be keen to continue their winning momentum after comfortably brushing aside Zimbabwe in the T20I and ODI series.

In 2021, Zimbabwe managed to draw the two-match Test series against Afghanistan.

RECENT PERFORMANCE

ZIM

L

IRE

250/10 in 58.3 4.27

IRE vs ZIM 2024

Ireland beat Zimbabwe by 4 wickets

25 Jul 2024

ZIM

158/6 in 36.1 4.37

AFG

L L L

AFG

155/10 in 54.5 2.83

AFG vs IRE 2024

Ireland beat Afghanistan by -4 wickets 28 Feb 2024

IRE

111/4 in 31.3 3.52

SL

439/10 in 109.2 4.02

SL vs AFG 2024

Sri Lanka won by 10 wickets 02 Feb 2024

AFG

56/0 in 7.2 7.64

BAN

382/10 in 86.0 4.44

BAN vs AFG

Bangladesh won by 546 runs

14 Jun 2023

AFG

425/4 in 80.0 5.31

HEAD TO HEAD

TEAMS PREVIEW

Zimbabwe Preview

In the batting department, the side will be relying on the likes of Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Joyland Gumbie, Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza and Tadiwanashe Marumani to do the bulk of the scoring.

In bowling department, the side will be depending on the likes of Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Brandon Mavuta and Trevor Gwandu to deliver timely breakthroughs.

Zimbabwe Predicted Playing XI:

Craig Ervine (c), Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Dion Myers, Sean Williams, Joyland Gumbie, Brian Bennett, Sikandar Raza, Brandon Mavuta, Trevor Gwandu, Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani.

Zimbabwe Actual Playing XI:

Dion Myers, Ben Curran, Craig Ervine, Brian Bennett, Sean Williams, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Joylord Gumbie, Newman Nyamhuri, Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu, Brandon Mavuta

Afghanistan Preview

Sediqullah Atal, Bahir Shah, Riaz Hussain and Zahir Shahzad are four uncapped players picked by Afghanistan for the two-match Test series against Zimbabwe.

In the batting department, the side will be relying on the likes of Rahmat Shah, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, Sediqullah Atal, Rashid Khan, Ikram Alikhil, and Azmatullah Omarzai to do the bulk of the scoring.

Since 2021, Rahmat Shah has topped the batting charts for Afghanistan in Test format. In three matches, Rahmat Shah has accumulated 193 runs at an average of 32.16 with two half-centuries to his name.

In the bowling department, the side will be relying on the likes of Yasmin Ahmadzai, Rashid Khan, Naveed Zadran, Fareed Malik and Zahir Khan to deliver timely breakthroughs.

Afghanistan Predicted 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.

Afghanistan Actual Playing XI:

Hashmatullah Shahidi, Abdul Malik, Afsar Zazai, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmat Shah, Zia ur Rehman, Naveed Zadran, Zahir Khan, Allah Ghazanfar, Shahidullah Kamal

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The average first inning score at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo in Test matches played is around 300 runs. The weather forecast for the game is far from ideal as thundery showers are expected on all five days of the match.

ZIM vs AFG Pitch Report

Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo is going to host the 1st Test of the series played between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan.

Toss: To Bowl

Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo has been great venue for sides bowling first. 12 matches out of 25 played so far have been won by side bowling first.
Keeping that record in mind, both the skippers will be keen to win the toss, and bowl first in the series opener.