Round two in the desert heat – The white-ball fireworks are done. Now comes the part of the tour that tests patience, not power-hitting. Afghanistan have swept Zimbabwe 3-0 and made it look easy. But Test cricket is a different language, and the hosts know Zimbabwe will arrive with a point to prove, and five days to prove it. Afghanistan also arrive with some recent red-ball credit. A fortnight ago in Abu Dhabi, they held Bangladesh to a memorable draw, a result that showed their temperament in the longer format. Zimbabwe have a story to tell as well. Their Test calendar this year has had just one entry, a home game against Bangladesh, and they won it. One match is a small sample, but it was a big result against an opponent that is higher in the rankings. Afghan wall stands ready – Afghanistan have kept faith with the squad that held firm in Abu Dhabi. Rahmat Shah leads from the front, with Ikram Alikhil as his deputy. The captain is also the man in form. Across his last three innings in the format, Rahmat has made a century and a couple of fifties, so he arrives with runs behind him as well as the armband. Zimbabwe have already seen what he can do. In Harare on the 2024-25 tour, he piled up a historic 234 and then came back with 139 in the very next match. While Sediqullah Atal’s prolific rise, highlighted by his match-saving 111 against Bangladesh, has made him one of the first names Zimbabwe’s bowlers will need a plan for in Sharjah. Around Atal, the batting has a familiar spine. Abdul Malik is set to open, and Hashmatullah Shahidi, as dependable as ever, is the man charged with holding the middle order together, with Alikhil, Ismat Alam and Shahidullah for company. The headline comeback belongs to Afsar Zazai, who returns to Test cricket for the first time since the match against India in June. Whereas bowling-wise, the heroes of that Abu Dhabi Test, Mohammad Saleem, who picked six wickets and Yamin Ahmadzai, who snagged a match five-for, deservedly retain their places as premier pacers, along with Ziaur Rahman Sharifi to complete the troika. The spin options are led by Qais Ahmed, a man who can tie batters in knots and also contribute with the bat lower down, as his 80-ball 49 against Bangladesh showed. Zia-Ur-Rehman Akbar and Khalil Gurbaz complete the slow bowling group. Chevrons gear up for a unique challenge – Zimbabwe arrive in Sharjah under a changed leadership picture. Richard Ngarava led them in their most recent Test, the one-off match against Bangladesh in Harare in June, but he is unavailable for this series as he continues to recover from a lower-back injury. And in the absence of veterans like Sikandar Raza, Brian Bennett takes the leadership baton, producing a unique challenge for Zimbabwe’s one of the most promising talents. Around him, Craig Ervine, who is also just nine runs away from 2000 Test runs, remains the seasoned anchor at the top, while Brendan Taylor lends both experience to the middle order and assurance behind the stumps. Ben Curran and Innocent Kaia offer valuable options at the top, with Kaia’s dazzling 140 against Bangladesh having laid the foundation for Zimbabwe to seize control of that match. Meanwhile, the exciting Brian Bennett, their brightest young talent, is expected to shore up the middle order alongside Wessly Madhevere and Brad Evans, two of the most reliable all-round options after Raza. With Ngarava missing, Blessing Muzarabani becomes the undisputed leader of the attack. His bounce and new-ball threat are Zimbabwe’s best route to early breakthroughs, while Newman Nyamhuri and Kundai Matigimu offer young support. The spin duties will fall to Wellington Masakadza and Vincent Masekesa. Team form (Last 5 Tests, recent first) – AFG – DLLWD | ZIM – WWLLL. What to expect? Sharjah is a first for both sides. Neither Afghanistan nor Zimbabwe has played a Test at this venue, so there is no past experience to lean on. Both teams will be learning how the pitch behaves as the match goes on, and the side that adjusts quicker will have the edge. Zimbabwe’s batting will have to be far more resilient than it was in the recent T20I leg. Their most recent Test victory came at home, in Harare, where there was pace, bounce and movement – conditions that suited their seamers. That result will give them confidence, but Sharjah presents a completely different examination. The slower, lower surface, long spells in heat, and the constant threat of Afghanistan’s spinners mean Zimbabwe cannot rely on the same formula that worked at home. Whereas Afghanistan, who have already adapted well to these conditions, will see Sharjah as familiar territory. They have bowled and batted in the UAE regularly and would want to continue their dominance over the Chevrons.
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