ZIM vs AFG Match Prediction | 1st Test

Betting Tips

Afghanistan lost 2-0 to the hosts Zimbabwe in the recent ODI series. Now, these teams head into the test series, which will be played at the Zim venue of Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Let's take a close look at the match preview, pitch report, match prediction, and betting tips for this game.

Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan Head-to-Head Record

These teams have played against each other twice in the test match format. Both teams have won one game apiece. These games were played in 2021, and Afghanistan men won the last match between the two sides.

Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan Live-streaming and Broadcast

Unfortunately, this test match between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan will not be aired in India. However, ardent cricket fans can enjoy the contest through live streaming on the FanCode site and app.

ZIM vs AFG Team Previews

Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe team has also not had a good run in recent test matches. They have lost four out of their last five games and managed to draw the remaining contest. The Zimbabwean team management has named seven new players for this Boxing Day test match.

They have included new batters such as Jonathan Campbell and Ben Curran. Nyasha Mayano and Tdiwanashe Marumani are the new wicketkeepers for this contest. Some new pacers have also been added, including Takudzwa Chataira, Newman Myamhuri, and Trevor Gwandu.

The young pacer Chataira has also earned a cap for this contest. Curran has been included in the team because of his performance in the Logan Cup. He made his international debut in the first ODI of the series against Afghanistan.

The squad has also retained experienced players such as Sean Williams, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, and Sikandar Raza. Players such as Clive Madande, Prince Masvaure, Roy Kaia, Tendai Chatara, and Victor Nyauchi, who played in Zim's last test against Ireland, have been omitted.

Zimbabwe Expected Playing 11

Afghanistan

The mercurial Afghanistan leggie and all-rounder Rashid Khan has been named in the Afghan test team for the upcoming game. He last played for the Afghanistan test team in 2021. After suffering from a groin injury, he excused himself from test cricket.

*Update: Rashid Khan is going to be unavailable for selection due to personal reasons.

Hashmatullah Shahidi will lead the 8-member Afghanistan test team, which includes seven new faces in the test match format. Some of them include all-rounder Ismat Alam and left-arm seamer Bashir Ahmad. They were rewarded after a good showing in the domestic circuit.

Other uncapped players likely to debut are Fareed Ahmad Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Riaz Hassan, and Azmatullah Omarzai. They were picked for the test match against New Zealand, but the game was washed away.

Some of the top batters to watch out for in this test are Rahmat Shah and the skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi. Shah has scored 578 runs in his last nine games, while Shahidi has put together 485 runs in his previous eight games. Rashid Khan and Yamin Ahmadzai will spearhead the Afghan bowling charge.

Afghanistan Expected Playing 11

ZIM vs AFG Toss Prediction

We have seen 25 test matches played at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The team batting first has won four of them, and the team batting second has won twelve games. The remaining nine games ended in a draw. So, the skipper winning the coin flip will look to field first here.

Pitch and Conditions

Even though we have seen several draws at this venue, the surface at the Bulawayo has not been a high-scoring ground. Fast bowlers can expect some seam movement early on with the new ball. The pitch will gradually slow down as the game progresses. Spinners will get assistance later on as the pitch wears. Moderate showers are expected on all five days of the game. The temperatures during the contest will be reasonably pleasant, close to 25 degrees.

ZIM vs AFG Betting Tips

Afghanistan has won both the T20 and the ODI legs of this tour with ease. We don't expect them to have too much trouble in the Test match either. While the record suggests some sort of a contest between these two teams, the fact of the matter is that Afghanistan is far ahead of Zimbabwe in cricket right now.

A Test match exposes all weaknesses and Zimbabwe has too many to overcome.

Bet on Afghanistan to win.