After a nine-month gap, Afghanistan are back in Test cricket, facing Zimbabwe in a one-off Test match at the Harare Sports Club. The two teams last met in January in Bulawayo, where Afghanistan dominated the series.
Match Overview: Zimbabwe Host Afghanistan in Harare
This series marks the return of Test cricket to Harare after nearly four years. Zimbabwe last hosted a Test at this venue in 2021, and their most recent home Test victory came back in 2013. Meanwhile, Afghanistan have played only 11 Tests since gaining status in 2018 but have claimed wins against Ireland, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe.
Although this fixture is not part of the World Test Championship, it holds great importance for both nations. The Test match will be followed by three T20 internationals — crucial preparation for next year’s ICC T20 World Cup.
Form Guide
Zimbabwe: L L L L L
Afghanistan: W D L L L
Zimbabwe’s batting lineup has struggled recently, failing to cross 200 runs in their last four innings. However, the inclusion of Antum Naqvi, the Belgian-born batter recently naturalized as a Zimbabwean, offers hope. Naqvi has impressed in domestic cricket with a triple century and solid recent form, scoring 68 and 108 against MCC.
On the other hand, Afghanistan will miss star spinner Rashid Khan, who has been rested for the Test and will return for the T20Is. In his absence, left-arm spinner Zia-ur-Rehman, who took five wickets in the last Zimbabwe series and has 215 first-class wickets, will lead the spin attack.
Conditions and Expectations
The pitch at Harare Sports Club is expected to favor batsmen once the new ball loses movement, with some early assistance for seamers. Warm temperatures and minimal rain mean favorable conditions for cricket throughout the match.
Key Stats and Trivia
Head-to-head: Zimbabwe and Afghanistan have met in four Tests, with Afghanistan leading 2–1.
Blessing Muzarabani needs seven more wickets to reach Zimbabwe’s all-time top four Test wicket-takers.
Rahmat Shah, Afghanistan’s leading Test run-scorer with 970 runs, is sidelined due to injury.
Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi is 243 runs away from reaching 1,000 Test runs.
With both sides eager to prove themselves in the longer format, the Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe Test 2025 promises competitive cricket and an important opportunity for both nations to regain momentum in red-ball cricket.
