- Afghanistan, Zimbabwe face-off with WTC spot on the horizon Antum Naqvi is set to make his Test debut, which would mean a rejig of the playing XI for Zimbabwe, who will be led by Brian Bennett in Richard Ngarava’s absence The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 Zimbabwe , in particular, are pushing for a place in the elite club and see it as their responsibility as Full Members to champion the longest format, even if it is a financial strain.
- In 2025, they played ten Tests to show their commitment to the cause but they have only had one in 2026, with two more scheduled against Afghanistan.
- For contrast, Afghanistan , who don’t even have a proper home ground, have only played 14 Tests in their history but have never played more in a calendar year than in 2026.
Afghanistan, Zimbabwe face-off with WTC spot on the horizon Antum Naqvi is set to make his Test debut, which would mean a rejig of the playing XI for Zimbabwe, who will be led by Brian Bennett in Richard Ngarava’s absence The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 Zimbabwe , in particular, are pushing for a place in the elite club and see it as their responsibility as Full Members to champion the longest format, even if it is a financial strain.
In 2025, they played ten Tests to show their commitment to the cause but they have only had one in 2026, with two more scheduled against Afghanistan. For contrast, Afghanistan , who don’t even have a proper home ground, have only played 14 Tests in their history but have never played more in a calendar year than in 2026. This series will take them to four Tests this year.
All that may mean the outcome of the Tests will be secondary to the players both sides are able to unearth. Zimbabwe have picked Belgian-born Antum Naqvi , who has lit up the domestic scene with six hundreds in 24 first-class matches and also has a solid List A record. Their squad continues to lean on experience in the form of a trio of 40-year-olds: Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine and Graeme Cremer, but there is no Sikandar Raza, who last played a Test a year ago and supports Zimbabwe’s inclusion in the WTC but sees his own career winding down .
Likewise, Afghanistan have none of Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran available for this series but their leading run-scorer and ctain Rahmat Shah does have the likes of Hashmatullah Shahidi and Yamin Ahmadzai, their second-highest wicket-taker , at his disposal. Afghanistan DLLWD (last five completed matches, most recent first) Zimbabwe WWLLL Abdul Malik got off to a brisk start, India vs Afghanistan, Only Test, 2nd day, New Chandigarh, June 7, 2026 Brian Bennett will have the responsibility of ctaining Zimbabwe in the absence of regular skipper Richard Ngarava, who has a back problem, and of improving his own form. Across all formats, Bennett has only crossed 30 once in his last ten innings.
His last Test innings, against Bangladesh in Harare, brought a half-century and he has two hundreds, one of them against Afghanistan, to his name, and he will want to replicate the patience he showed in those knocks as he looks to lead from the front. Afghanistan’s last Test was a draw against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi and they may stick with the same XI that secured that result. Afghanistan (possible) : 1 Sediqullah Atal, 2 Abdul Malik, 3 Shahidullah, 4 Rahmat Shah (ct), 5 Hashmatullah Shahidi, 6 Ikram Alikhil (wk), 7 Ismal Alam, 8 Qais Ahmed, 9 Zia-ur-Rehman, 10 Yamin Ahmadzai, 11 Mohammad Saleem Antum Naqvi broke a number of Zimbabwe cricket records on his way to an unbeaten 300, Matabeleland Tuskers vs Mid West Rhinos, Logan Cup, Harare, January 12, 2024 With Naqvi in line for a debut, Zimbabwe may consider asking Brendan Taylor to keep wicket to balance the XI, unless they are willing to consider leaving one of Taylor and Ervine out.
They are likely to want two frontline spinners but may struggle to find space for Wellington Masakadza and could end up choosing between legspinners Cremer and Vincent Masekesa. Zimbabwe (possible) : 1 Innocent Kaia, 2 Ben Curran, 3 Brendan Taylor, 4 Brian Bennett, 5 Craig Ervine, 6 Antum Naqvi/Tafadzwa Tsiga, 7 Wessly Madhevere, 8 Brad Evans, 9 Graeme Cremer/Vincent Masekesa, 10 Kundai Matigimu, 11 Blessing Muzarabani The head-to-head numbers between these two sides is as close as it gets. They have played against each other five times, with each winning two, with one draw.
Ervine needs nine runs to become the seventh Zimbabwe batter to 2000 Test runs . “The more we play Test cricket and the more wins we get as a cricketing nation, that will propel us to the Test Championship. That’s one of our goals.
Hopefully in the not too distant future, we will be able to get into that Test Championship.” Zimbabwe’s stand-in ctain Brian Bennett hopes to see his side included in one of cricket’s elite clubs Afg vs Zim 1st Test – Afghanistan and Zimbabwe face-off in Sharjah with WTC plans likely to come true Antum Naqvi is set to make his Test debut, which would mean a rejig of the playing XI for Zimbabwe, who will be led by Brian Bennett in Richard Ngarava’s absence Yamin Ahmadzai struck early in the second session, Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, Only Test, Abu Dhabi, 3rd day, October 11, 2026 Tossed up full around middle and leg, goes down and attempts to go for a sweep towards fine leg and ends up getting back of the bat and it goes to Atal at first slip, gets out in an unfortunate fashion as Afghanistan rejoice after finally managing to pick their first wicket Cleaned him up with a JAFFA and Saleem screams in the face of Curran! A ferocious yorker angles in on the stumps with pinpoint line and length, completely baffling Curran. The batter attempts to block inside the line of the ball but fails to get behind it in time and loses his balance a bit as his front foot goes up in the air.
Saleem sprints forward, throwing punches in the air and screaming his lungs out in joy, shooting a few fiery glances toward Curran. The batter turns around, shakes his head and mutters to himself in dispointment. Cleaned him up with a JAFFA and Saleem screams in the face of Curran!
A ferocious yorker angles in on the stumps with pinpoint line and length, completely baffling Curran. The batter attempts to block inside the line of the ball but fails to get behind it in time and loses his balance a bit as his front foot goes up in the air. Saleem sprints forward, throwing punches in the air and screaming his lungs out in joy, shooting a few fiery glances toward Curran.
The batter turns around, shakes his head and mutters to himself in dispointment. Tossed up full around middle and leg, goes down and attempts to go for a sweep towards fine leg and ends up getting back of the bat and it goes to Atal at first slip, gets out in an unfortunate fashion as Afghanistan rejoice after finally managing to pick their first wicket Tossed up full around middle and leg, goes down and attempts to go for a sweep towards fine leg and ends up getting back of the bat and it goes to Atal at first slip, gets out in an unfortunate fashion as Afghanistan rejoice after finally managing to pick their first wicket Cleaned him up with a JAFFA and Saleem screams in the face of Curran! A ferocious yorker angles in on the stumps with pinpoint line and length, completely baffling Curran.
The batter attempts to block inside the line of the ball but fails to get behind it in time and loses his balance a bit as his front foot goes up in the air. Saleem sprints forward, throwing punches in the air and screaming his lungs out in joy, shooting a few fiery glances toward Curran. The batter turns around, shakes his head and mutters to himself in dispointment.
Antum Naqvi broke a number of Zimbabwe cricket records on his way to an unbeaten 300, Matabeleland Tuskers vs Mid West Rhinos, Logan Cup, Harare, January 12, 2024 Afg vs Zim 1st Test – Afghanistan and Zimbabwe face-off in Sharjah with WTC plans likely to come true Antum Naqvi is set to make his Test debut, which would mean a rejig of the playing XI for Zimbabwe, who will be led by Brian Bennett in Richard Ngarava’s absence Yamin Ahmadzai struck early in the second session, Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, Only Test, Abu Dhabi, 3rd day, October 11, 2026 Cremer also returns to the Test fold after close to nine years, with Bennett set to lead the squad in Ngarava’s absence Antum Naqvi scored 300 not out in just 295 balls, Matabeleland Tuskers vs Mid West Rhinos, Logan Cup, Harare, January 12, 2024 Afg vs Zim 1st Test – Afghanistan and Zimbabwe face-off in Sharjah with WTC plans likely to come true Antum Naqvi is set to make his Test debut, which would mean a rejig of the playing XI for Zimbabwe, who will be led by Brian Bennett in Richard Ngarava’s absence Yamin Ahmadzai struck early in the second session, Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, Only Test, Abu Dhabi, 3rd day, October 11, 2026 AFG vs ZIM 2026/27, AFG vs ZIM 1st Test Match Preview – Afghanistan, Zimbabwe face-off with WTC spot on the horizon AFG vs ZIM 2026/27 Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe Match Preview: Antum Naqvi is set to make his Test debut, which would mean a rejig of the playing XI for Zimbabwe, who will be led by Brian Bennett in Richard Ngarava’s absence Antum Naqvi is set to make his Test debut, which would mean a rejig of the playing XI for Zimbabwe, who will be led by Brian Bennett in Richard Ngarava’s absence
