Zimbabwe make three changes and ask Afghanistan to bat in the one-off test to be played here at Harare sports club.
Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine won the toss and elected to bowl in their one-off Test against Afghanistan in Harare on Monday, referring to the green surface, which he anticipates to benefit the seamers early on, for his selection.
Ben Curran, Richard Ngarava, and Brad Evans replaced Sean Williams, Trevor Gwandu, and Vincent Masekesa in Zimbabwe’s three-man lineup from their most recent Test match, which they played against New Zealand in August in Bulawayo.
Curran will be back at the top of the order, and Brendon Taylor, who started for Zimbabwe in their most recent Test match, will bat at number four.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan gave legspinner Khalil Gurbaz, spin-bowling all-rounder Sharafuddin Ashraf, and seamer Ziaur Rahman their debuts.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz is expected to play in the middle order, while Ibrahim Zadran, who is back at the top of the order, will partner Abdul Malik.
Zimbabwe: Ibrahim Zadran, Abdul Malik, Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Bahir Shah, Afsar Zazai (wk), Ismat Alam, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Khalil Gurbaz, Yamin Ahmadzai, Ziaur Rahman
Afghanistan: Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Nick Welch, Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine (capt), Sikandar Raza, Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Brad Evans, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Tanaka Chivanga