Zimbabwe to host Afghanistan in oneoff Harare Test from Oct 20

Zimbabwe will host Afghanistan in a oneoff Test at Harare Sports Club starting Monday, October 20, with the match scheduled to run through October 24. Play is due to begin each day at 10 a.m. local time, and the tour will continue with three Twenty20 internationals at the same venue on October 29, 31 and November 2.

Selectors in both camps have mixed experience with fresh faces. Zimbabwe’s squad features maiden Test callups for Antum Naqvi and fast bowler Tinotenda Maposa, while Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava have been recalled to strengthen the bowling unit. Craig Ervine leads a side that includes Brendan Taylor, Sikandar Raza, Wellington Masakadza, Ben Curran and youngster Brian Bennett. Afghanistan have named several players rewarded for domestic form, including pacer Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi and spinner Sharafuddin Ashraf; Rashid Khan has been rested for the Test but will travel for the T20Is. Hashmatullah Shahidi captains the visiting side, which also includes openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran and spinner Ziaur Rehman Akbar.

The Harare surface is expected to offer assistance to fast bowlers with movement and bounce in the opening sessions before slowing and...