In a landmark event for cricket in Zimbabwe, Afghanistan will tour the country for an all-format series featuring the first-ever Boxing Day Test and the first New Year’s Test in 28 years. The series, scheduled to take place in December 2024 and January 2025, marks a significant moment for both teams and Zimbabwean cricket as a whole.
The tour will kick off with three T20 Internationals in Harare, running from December 9 to 12, followed by three One-Day Internationals from December 15 to 19. The action will then move to Bulawayo for the historic Test matches, with the first Test set to commence on December 26 and the second from January 2 to 6.
This series will be particularly notable as it will feature Zimbabwe’s first Boxing Day Test in 28 years. The only previous Boxing Day Test held in Zimbabwe took place in 1996 against England, a match that ended in a rain-affected draw in Harare. The country has participated in other Boxing Day fixtures in Wellington and Port Elizabeth, but this will be a unique opportunity for local fans to witness the spectacle of a Test match during the festive season.
Zimbabwe Cricket Chair Tavengwa Mukuhlani expressed excitement about the upcoming matches, stating, “Boxing Day and New Year’s Test matches are iconic cricket fixtures that we are delighted to be adding to our calendar this festive season. This is a clear demonstration of our commitment to improve our game across all formats.”
Afghanistan Cricket Board Chairman Mirwais Ashraf echoed these sentiments, highlighting the historical ties and competitive spirit between the two teams. “The all-format tour to Zimbabwe is a significant event for us. We have a rich history with Zimbabwe, and playing there has always been challenging, but it’s a challenge I believe the Afghan Atalan can face confidently,” he said.
Afghanistan and Zimbabwe have met in two Test matches previously, both of which took place in Abu Dhabi in March 2021, with each side winning one game. The two teams have also faced each other in 28 ODIs and 15 T20Is, promising an exciting series ahead.
Read This:- Pakistan tour of Zimbabwe, 2024