Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 1st Test prediction, lineups and Sharjah pitch report — who will win?
· Yahoo Sports
Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 1st Test prediction, lineups and Sharjah pitch report — who will win? originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Visit h-doctor.club for more information.
Afghanistan and Zimbabwe meet in Sharjah on Thursday (11.30am IST) for the first of two Tests, on a ground that has not staged the format in a decade. The last one, in 2016, saw West Indies chase 154 against Pakistan, and since then the venue has hosted 76 men’s white-ball games.
Both sides are outside the World Test Championship for now, with ICC meetings next weekend set to discuss expanding it. Zimbabwe played ten Tests in 2025 but only one in 2026, while Afghanistan, who have no proper home ground, are playing their fourth Test of the year, their busiest calendar year yet.
Zimbabwe are likely to give a debut to Antum Naqvi, the Belgian-born batter with six hundreds in 24 first-class matches. Brian Bennett captains because Richard Ngarava has a back problem, and Sikandar Raza is missing. Afghanistan are without Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, so Rahmat Shah leads a side coming off a draw with Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi.
Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe prediction: who will win?
Afghanistan look the likelier winners, though not by a distance. The pitch is the main character here. Sharjah has become known for slow, low-bouncing surfaces and a sluggish outfield, with temperatures forecast above 36 degrees, so runs will be hard to find and the spinners will carry the load. That suits Afghanistan, who are expected to field Qais Ahmed and Zia-ur-Rehman, and it helps Zimbabwe only if Graeme Cremer or Vincent Masekesa plays.
Zimbabwe have reasons for hope. The form guide shows them winning their last two completed Tests, and they have the experience of Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine and Cremer, all 40. Ervine needs nine runs to reach 2000 Test runs. But their batting leans heavily on veterans and a debutant, and their attack is thin without Ngarava.
Afghanistan miss three big names, yet Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi give the top order a steadier feel, and Abdul Malik arrives with his first Test fifty behind him. A tight, low-scoring match is likely, and Afghanistan can edge it.
The Cricket News Prediction: Afghanistan to win
Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe predicted lineups, team news for 1st Test
Afghanistan predicted lineup
Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Shahidullah, Rahmat Shah (c), Hashmatullah Shahidi, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Ismal Alam, Qais Ahmed, Zia-ur-Rehman, Yamin Ahmadzai, Mohammad Saleem
Zimbabwe predicted lineup
Innocent Kaia, Ben Curran, Brendan Taylor, Brian Bennett (c), Craig Ervine, Antum Naqvi, Wessly Madhevere, Brad Evans, Graeme Cremer, Kundai Matigimu, Blessing Muzarabani
More: Live Ball-by-Ball Commentary
Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe pitch report, 1st Test, Sharjah
Sharjah is expected to be slow with low bounce and a sluggish outfield, so scoring will be tough and so will fielding in the heat.
Stat
Detail
Total matches
9
Matches won batting first
4
Matches won bowling first
4
Average 1st innings score
352
Average 2nd innings score
352
Average 3rd innings score
212
Average 4th innings score
176
Highest total recorded
690/10 (143.1 overs) by NZ vs PAK
Lowest total recorded
53/10 (24.5 overs) by PAK vs AUS
Highest score chased
302/5 (57.3 overs) by PAK vs SL
Lowest score defended
156/10 (60.3 overs) by ENG vs PAK
Who do you think will win this match? For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary and to share your voice, head to our Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages.