Zimbabwe is set to make history by hosting Afghanistan for the country’s first Boxing Day Test in 28 years, followed by its first-ever New Year’s Test, both to be played in Bulawayo. This will be Zimbabwe’s first Boxing Day Test since 1996, when they played England in a rain-affected match in Harare. The upcoming two-Test series will see Zimbabwe revive the tradition and celebrate the festive season with cricket.
The all-format tour will kick off with three T20 internationals in Harare from December 9-12, followed by three ODIs between December 15-19. After the limited-overs games, the action will shift to Bulawayo, where the first Test will take place from December 26-30 and the second from January 2-6.
Zimbabwe Cricket chair Tavengwa Mukuhlani expressed excitement over the historic fixtures, emphasizing the festive spirit and the significance of the Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests. “Matches between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are always intense and exciting, and we are looking forward to some great entertainment befitting such an historic tour,” he stated.
Afghanistan Cricket Board chair Mirwais Ashraf also highlighted the importance of the tour, acknowledging the challenging history between the two teams and expressing confidence in the Afghan squad’s readiness for the competition.
The tour marks a significant chapter for both nations in cricket, with the teams having previously faced each other in two Tests, 28 ODIs, and 15 T20Is. Their last Test encounter was in March 2021 in Abu Dhabi, where both teams won one game each.