Afghanistan to Tour Zimbabwe for Historic Boxing Day and New Year's Tests

Zimbabwe is set to host Afghanistan for a historic series, marking the country’s first Boxing Day Test in 28 years and its debut New Year's Test, both to be held in Bulawayo. The last Boxing Day Test in Zimbabwe took place in 1996 against England in Harare, a rain-affected match that ended in a draw. Since then, Zimbabwe has only played Boxing Day Tests abroad, in Wellington (2000) and Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth, 2017).

The all-format series will kick off with white-ball matches, starting with three T20Is from December 9 to 12, followed by three ODIs from December 15 to 19, all hosted in Harare. The teams will then shift to Bulawayo for the two Tests, beginning with the Boxing Day fixture.

Zimbabwe Cricket chair Tavengwa Mukuhlani expressed excitement over bringing back these iconic cricket traditions, saying, "Boxing Day and New Year's Test matches are iconic fixtures… we are looking forward to celebrating in style one of the finest traditions in the sport’s long history.” He highlighted the board’s commitment to promoting all formats of the game and noted the competitive history between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan.

Mirwais Ashraf, chair of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, also shared his enthusiasm: "The all-format tour to Zimbabwe is a significant event for us. We have a rich history with Zimbabwe, and playing there has always been challenging, but it's a challenge I believe the Afghan Atalan can face confidently."

Afghanistan and Zimbabwe have previously faced each other in two Test matches, 28 ODIs, and 15 T20Is, including a Test series in March 2021 in Abu Dhabi, which ended 1-1. This upcoming tour promises to add another thrilling chapter to the rivalry, with both teams looking to make a mark across all formats.