Home / Sports / Afghanistan vs. Zimbabwe: Test clash in Sharjah!
Afghanistan vs. Zimbabwe: Test clash in Sharjah!
5 Nov
Summary
- Afghanistan and Zimbabwe commence a Test match in Sharjah.
- Rahmat Shah leads Afghanistan; Brian Bennett captains Zimbabwe.
- The Sharjah pitch is expected to be dry, slow, and favor spinners.
Afghanistan and Zimbabwe are scheduled to compete in the first Test match at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, commencing on Thursday, November 5. Rahmat Shah will lead the Afghan team, with Brian Bennett captaining Zimbabwe due to Richard Ngarava's injury. This Test follows a lopsided T20I series where Afghanistan emerged victorious in all three encounters.
Zimbabwe's squad largely retains players from their significant Test win against Bangladesh in June. Graeme Cremer might feature in his first Test since December 2017, and Antum Naqvi is poised for his Zimbabwe debut. Afghanistan will look to Bashir Ahmad, alongside new inclusions Ziaur Rahman Sharifi and Sharafuddin Ashraf. Leg-spinner Khalil Gurbaz has been recalled, though Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran remain rested.
The Sharjah Cricket Stadium pitch is expected to be dry, slow, and low. Winning the toss and batting first is likely to be advantageous, as conditions are predicted to deteriorate. Spinners are anticipated to be key performers, making a substantial first-innings score crucial for success.
