Afghanistan Playing 11 vs Zimbabwe- 1st Test, Afghanistan tour of Zimbabwe 2024-25

High-flying Afghanistan will look to continue their domination over Zimbabwe when both teams lock horns against each other in the first Test of the two-match series. The Test is scheduled to be played from Thursday (December 26) at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo.

Barring the close loss in the first T20I, everything has gone right for the Afghans on the ongoing tour so far. After the loss in the first T20I, they won the following two games to clinch the series.

In the ODI series, the Hashmatullah Shahidi-led side were clearly the superior of the two teams as they thoroughly outplayed Zimbabwe in all the departments. After the rain washed out the first ODI in which Zimbabwe were reeling at 44/5 inside 10 overs, the Afghans won the second game by 232 runs.

Defending 286 runs, the Afghans bowled out Zimbabwe for just 54 runs. In the third ODI, Afghanistan registered an 8-wicket victory while chasing a modest total of 128 runs.

With the Afghans eyeing a similar outing in the Test series as well, we are taking a look at Afghanistan Playing 11 for the first Test.

Afghanistan Playing 11 vs Zimbabwe- 1st Test, Afghanistan tour of Zimbabwe 2024-25:

Openers: Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal

Sediqullah Atal and Abdul Malik are expected to be the openers in the AfghanPlaying 11 for the first Test against Zimbabwe. Atal enjoyed a brilliant campaign in the ODI series against Zimbabwe, scoring 104 and 52 runs in the last two ODIs.

With form on his side, Atal is expected to make his Test debut in the upcoming game and he will be looking to make the game even more special for himself by scoring big.

His opening partner Malik had a fine outing in the ODIs too. In the second ODI, Malik scored 84 runs before scoring 29 runs in the third game. Malik looked in good touch in the ODIs and will be keen to replicate the form in Tests as well.

Middle-order batsmen and allrounders: Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Ikram Alikhil, Bahir Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan

Hashmatullah Shahidi will be leading his team's charge with the bat in the middle-order. The left-handed batsman already has a double-century to his name against Zimbabwe and will be looking to add more Test runs to his tally.

The other batting options in the Afghanistan middle order will be the likes of Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, and Bahir Shah. Rashid Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai will be the two all-rounders in the Afghanistan Playing 11.

Both Omarzai and Rashid have the ability to change the course of any game with both bat and ball and the Afghans will be hoping that the duo lives up to the expectations in the first Test.

Bowlers: Naveed Zadran, AM Ghazanfar, Fareed Ahmed

The Afghans are likely to have two frontline pacers and one frontline spinner in the Afghan Playing 11. Naveed Zadran and Fareed Ahmed are expected to be the pacers while AM Ghazanfar will be the spinner.

Ghazanfar enjoyed a stunning campaign in the ODI series against Zimbabwe, taking 9 wickets in 3 games including a five-wicket haul, and will be eyeing more success in the Test.