Zimbabwe Playing 11 vs Afghanistan – 2nd Test, Afghanistan tour for Zimbabwe 2024-25

Zimbabwe will be looking at series win when they take on Afghanistan in the second and final Test of the ongoing series. The match is scheduled to be played from Thursday (January 2) at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo.

After losing the T20I and ODI series, the hosts had a strong batting display in the first Test. Batting first, the hosts amassed a mammoth total of 586 runs. Sean Williams, Craig Ervine and Brian Bennett scored centuries for the home team.

Afghanistan, however, still managed to do better than the hosts as they ended their first innings with 699 runs. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah scored double centuries while Afsar Zazai scored a century.

In the second innings, Zimbabwe scored 142/4 when proceedings finally ended. With both teams now ready for the second test, here is the Zimbabwe Playing 11 for the upcoming match.

Zimbabwe Playing 11 vs Afghanistan – 2nd Test, Afghanistan tour for Zimbabwe 2024-25:

Openers: Joylord Gumbie (wk), Ben Curran

Joylord Gumbie and Ben Curran are likely to be the starting XI for the next Test. Although Gumbie failed to impress in the first Test, he is expected to retain his place in the Zimbabwe Playing 11 for the second Test.

In the first innings, the host was bowled out for just 9 runs before scoring 24 in the second innings. Unlike Gumbie, fellow opener Ben Curran had a decent start in the first Test.

After a poor start in the previous ODI series, the debutant scored a fine fifty in his first Test innings. Curran scored 68 runs in the first innings and followed it up with 41 runs in the second innings.

Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine (c), Dion Myers, Brian Bennett, Sikandar Raza

Takudzwanashe Kaitano also looks set to retain his place in the Playing 11 despite failing to make the most of the batting conditions in the first Test. He scored 46 runs in the first innings before being dismissed for just 5 runs in the second innings.

Sean Williams starred with the bat for the hosts. In the first innings, he top scored for his team, scoring 154 runs. It was his third century in three Tests against Afghanistan. In the second innings too, Williams impressed with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 35.

Captain Craig Ervine led from the front in the first test. The star scored 104 runs in the first innings. In the second innings, he remained unbeaten on 22 and shared a crucial stand with Williams after the hosts were reduced to 88 for 4.

Brian Bennett impressed with both bat and ball in the first Test. The all-rounder scored an unbeaten 110 runs in the first innings. With the ball, he took 5 wickets for 95 runs. He will be looking at another strong show in the second Test.

Dion Myers failed to impress with the bat in the first Test but is likely to keep his place in Zimbabwe playing 11. He scored 27 runs in the first innings before scoring 4 in the second.

The hosts could make a change to their line-up for the next Test. Veteran all-rounder Sikandar Raza could deputize Brandon Trouble in Zimbabwe Playing 11 for the second Test.

Bowlers: Newman Nyamhuli, Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu

Looks like the bowling line-up will remain the same for the next match. Newman Nyamhuri, Blessing of Muzarabani and Trevor Gwandu are likely to be the bowlers in Zimbabwe’s line-up.