Sports · Cricket · 2 hrs ago
Zimbabwe Choose to Bat First Against Afghanistan in Sharjah Test
Zimbabwe chose to bat first against Afghanistan in the opening Test in Sharjah on November 5.
Brian Bennett, 22, is leading Zimbabwe as captain for the first time in a Test.
Zimbabwe are without injured fast bowler Richard Ngarava, who has a back problem.
Afghanistan are also missing batters Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, leaving Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Sediqullah Atal with added responsibility.
The Sharjah pitch is expected to slow down, with more help for spinners on the second and third days.
Afghanistan drew their previous Test against Bangladesh after batting for 142 overs, while their captain says the team is in good form.
Zimbabwe’s first innings begins the match, and the conditions could make spin increasingly important as play continues.
Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bat first against Afghanistan in the opening Test in Sharjah.
Zimbabwe captain Brian Bennett said the wicket looked good but was expected to break down later in the match.
Afghanistan captain Rahmat Shah said he would also have chosen to bat first.
Afghanistan made two changes from their previous Test against Bangladesh.
Zimbabwe included two pacers, leg-spinner Graeme Cremer and three finger-spin options.
- Who
- Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are playing in the opening Test. Brian Bennett is Zimbabwe’s captain.
- What
- Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat first.
- When
- November 5, 2026.
- Where
- Sharjah.
- Why
- Bennett said the wicket looked good but would break down later in the match.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Brian Bennett won the toss and Zimbabwe elected to bat first.
Bennett said the wicket looked good but was expected to break down later in the game.
Rahmat Shah said he would also have chosen to bat first.
- Toss winner
- Zimbabwe
- Decision
- Bat first
- Zimbabwe captain
- Brian Bennett
- Afghanistan captain
- Rahmat Shah
- Venue
- Sharjah
- Zimbabwe bowling combination
- Two pacers, Graeme Cremer as leg-spinner, and three finger-spin options
3 sources
What people are saying
they will BAT first as the wicket looks good, but it will start to break down later in the game, so the first session becomes crucial.
the first hour will be crucial for the seamers and they need to hit the stumps