Zimbabwe to Host Afghanistan for One Test and Three T20Is in Harare
Zimbabwe will play against Afghanistan in October with just one Test and three T20 matches, fewer than the original plan of two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is. All games will take place at Harare Sports Club, hosting a Test for the first time in four years, after Zimbabwe’s last nine home Tests in Bulawayo all ended in losses.
Zimbabwe and Afghanistan have played four Tests from 2021 to 2025 with Zimbabwe winning once, losing twice, and drawing once. Their latest series in December-January 2024-25 saw Afghanistan winning the two-Test series 1-0, the T20I series 2-1 and the ODI series 2-0. Zimbabwe Cricket’s Managing Director, Givemore Makoni, said the upcoming series will add another exciting chapter to the growing rivalry between the teams.
“We are delighted to be hosting Afghanistan once again, this time for a one-off Test followed by three T20Is in Harare. Encounters between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan have become keenly contested and entertaining, and we are confident this upcoming tour will deliver more of the same for our fans.”
Zimbabwe Missed 2024 World Cup, Aims for Better Future Performance
The Test from October 20 to 24 will wrap up a busy year for Zimbabwe, who are not in the World Test Championship but are playing 10 matches in 2025. The second Test and three ODIs planned for this tour have been moved to 2026, while the T20Is will take place on October 29, 31 and November 2.
Zimbabwe Cricket is focusing on the T20Is to prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup. The team, now in the semi-finals of the Africa Regional Qualifier, will qualify for the tournament in India and Sri Lanka in February-March 2026 if they beat Kenya. Zimbabwe missed the 2024 World Cup after losing to Uganda in the qualifiers and has played in only one of the last three editions in 2022 reaching the Super 12 stage.
If Zimbabwe qualifies for the 2026 T20 World Cup, ZC plans to organize extra matches, since there are no games scheduled between November 2025 and April 2026. With most Full Member teams busy, Zimbabwe might play against sides like Namibia, Netherlands or Nepal.
