Zimbabwe hosting Afghanistan Test team for second time in 2025
Afghans had won previous series 1-0 in Bulawayo
Rashid Khan rested for visitors in one-off Test
Welcome to our live coverage of the opening day of the one-off Test between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club on Monday (October 20, 2025). The two teams had faced off in the format as recently as January in Bulawayo, and will resume their rivalry in Harare.
The Afghans had won the prior series 1-0, thanks to a 72-run victory in the second Test. The first match had been drawn.
The current match is Zimbabwe's first home Test in Harare since 2021, following nine unsuccessful home matches played at the Queens Sports Club. Star Afghanistan all-rounder Rashid Khan has been rested for the one-off Test as a precaution before crucial upcoming games.
Follow the live cricket scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary from the ZIM vs AFG match:
At lunch, Zimbabwe had reduced Afghanistan to 106 for five in 24 overs, with Brad Evans picking up two wickets and Bahir Shah, Ismat Alam at the crease.
Afghanistan Vs Zimbabwe, One-Off Test: Toss Update
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bowl first against Afghanistan.
Afghanistan Vs Zimbabwe, One-Off Test: Playing XIs
Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Nick Welch, Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine (c), Sikandar Raza, Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Brad Evans, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Tanaka Chivanga
Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran, Abdul Malik, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Bahir Shah, Afsar Zazai (wk), Ismat Alam, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Khalil Gurbaz, Yamin Ahmadzai, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi
Afghanistan tragically lost three cricketers after a recent Pakistani air strike, and the national team will hope to bring some cheer to their people with another away win. The Test, not part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, will be followed by a three-match T20I series at the same venue, starting October 29.
Afghanistan Vs Zimbabwe, One-Off Test: Squads
Zimbabwe: Craig Ervine (c), Brian Bennett, Tanaka Chivanga, Ben Curran, Brad Evans, Roy Kaia, Tanunurwa Makoni, Wellington Masakadza, Tinotenda Maposa, Blessing Muzarabani, Antum Naqvi, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Brendan Taylor (wk), Nick Welch.
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Abdul Malik, Afsar Zazai, Ikram Alikhel, Bahir Shah, Shahidullah Kamal, Ismat Alam, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Khalil Gurbaz, Bashir Ahmad.
