Afghanistan return to Test cricket against familiar foes Zimbabwe
Afghanistan have not played a Test since January, when these two sides met in Bulawayo
Firdose Moonda
19-Oct-2025
Afghanistan will be playing a Test after nine months • Zimbabwe Cricket
Big picture: Zimbabwe back to Harare
International cricket is being played from A to Z this month, quite literally. Afghanistan visit Zimbabwe for the fifth men's series of October all against the backdrop of the Women's World Cup. Yes, these sides saw each other as recently as earlier this year; yes, they played a Test then and yes, they are playing a Test now.
Despite not being part of the World Test Championship, this short tour opens with a one-off Test before three T20Is all squeezed into a two-week window. The T20Is make sense given that both sides will compete at next year's T20 World Cup and, as things stand, Zimbabwe have no other international fixtures scheduled. Afghanistan are due to host West Indies and New Zealand for T20Is preceding the World Cup but the longest format has barely been on their radar unless it involves Zimbabwe.
Since these teams last met in a festive Test series over Boxing Day and New Year, Afghanistan have not played a Test while Zimbabwe have featured in eight. Only one of those matches went well - victory in Sylhet - and they've lost four of their last six by an innings and plenty. The players will want to show they have learnt from those chastening defeats.
Not only will Zimbabwe enjoy home comforts for this game, but they will return to the ground considered their primary home: Harare Sports Club. The capital has not hosted a Test since 2021 as Zimbabwe played their last nine home games in Bulawayo, all without success. Things haven't been better at HSC. Zimbabwe last won a Test in Harare in 2013, which is more recent than their 2001 victory in Bulawayo, but far enough in the past for 39-year old Brendan Taylor to be the only Zimbabwean to have played in that match. He is also in the squad for this game.
Afghanistan's long-format history is much shorter. They had not even played their first Test when Zimbabwe last won at home and have only participated in 11 matches since 2018. But they've beaten a variety of opposition including Ireland, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, and affirming themselves as the best performing of the so-called smaller nations will be high on the agenda.
Form guide
Zimbabwe: LLLLL (last five matches, most recent first)
Afghanistan: WDLLL
In the spotlight: Antum Naqvi and Zia-ur-Rehman
Zimbabwe's batting has been their Achilles' heel after they were bowled out for under 200 in their last four innings so the inclusion of Belgian-born Antum Naqvi holds much promise. Naqvi has recently been naturalised as a Zimbabwean after spending time in Australia and has two years of experience in Zimbabwe's domestic set-up. A regular No. 4, he could slot into the role left vacant by Sean Williams' absence for personal reasons and Zimbabwe will hope he shows off the form that saw him become the country's first red-ball triple-centurion. Naqvi's most recent exploits are a first-innings 68 and second-innings 108 against MCC last week.
Without Rashid Khan, who was the highest wicket-taker in the series the last time Afghanistan played Zimbabwe, they will have to look to others in the attack to get the job done. Left-arm spinner Zia-ur-Rehman claimed five wickets in the series earlier in the year and six against Ireland in 2024. He also has 215 first-class wickets at an average of 20.47 and was the third-highest wicket-taker in the Ahmad Shah Abdali four-day tournament earlier in the year.
Pitch and conditions: Early seam but lots of runs
There's been a fair amount of cricket at Harare Sports Club recently, which hosted the Africa Region's T20 World Cup Qualifiers earlier in the month. It is, however, a venue used to high traffic and should not affect conditions too much. Expect something a little quicker than Queens, with the possibility of early movement for the seamers, but generally good batting conditions. Day time temperatures have been warm in Zimbabwe for early summer and though there is a spot of rain about, it should be pleasant all week.
Stats and Trivia: Muzarabani on the rise
- Zimbabwe and Afghanistan have played four Tests against each other, and two in the last ten months. Afghanistan have a 2-1 head-to-head advantage.
- Blessing Muzarabani is already in Zimbabwe's top Test five wicket-takers and needs seven more to join Henry Olonga at fourth and nine more to catch up to Paul Strang at third.
- No Afghanistan batter has scored 1000 runs in Test cricket and the closest to that mark - Rahmat Shah on 970 runs - is out with an injury. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi is 243 runs away.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's correspondent for South Africa and women's cricket