Afghanistan to Face Zimbabwe in First Test Starting November 5

Afghanistan will face Zimbabwe in the first Test of a two-match series starting on November 5 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE.

The match is part of Afghanistan's efforts to build on their recent 3-0 T20I series victory over Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe's captain for the Test series will be Brian Bennett, as regular captain Richard Ngarava is unavailable.

The first Test is scheduled from November 5 to 9, with the second match set for November 13 to 17, both at the same venue.

Afghanistan's predicted playing XI includes Rahmat Shah as captain and Hashmatullah Shahidi, while Zimbabwe's XI features Craig Ervine and Ben Curran.

The Sharjah pitch is expected to provide a balanced surface, favoring batters early on and spinners later in the match.

Weather forecasts predict clear skies and temperatures of 34°C on November 5, with minimal chances of rain.

Afghanistan and Zimbabwe have a head-to-head record of two wins each in five Test matches, with one drawn.

The first Test will be available for live streaming via the FanCode app and website, but not on television in India.

Spinners are expected to dominate due to the slow pitch and low bounce, with Qais Ahmed and Zia-ur-Rehman Akbar likely to play key roles.