The T20I and ODI series between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are done and dusted with the visitors clinching both series. Now, Afghanistan's long tour to Zimbabwe moves to its final stage, with both teams gearing up to compete in the purest form of the gameāTest cricketāin a two-match series. Bulawayo will host both Tests, with the first match kicking off on Boxing Day. Itās worth noting that Zimbabwe will be hosting its first Boxing Day Test since 1996.
Time to wrap up this coverage, folks! For now, it's me Deepak Prakash signing off on behalf of scorer/analyst Asraj Khan. CHEERS!
Biggest wins for Afghanistan in ODIs (in terms of balls remaining):
193 vs Kenya, Sharjah, October 2013
175 vs Kenya, Sharjah, October 2013
173 vs Zimbabwe, Sharjah, February 2018
157 vs Ireland, Belfast, August 2018
144 vs South Africa, September 2024
139 vs Zimbabwe, Harare, This Match, December 2024
Hashmatullah Shahidi collects the trophy š and joins his teammates for the photo session.
Hashmatullah Shahidi (Afghanistan Captain): "Iām very pleased with the teamās performance in all three departments and excited about the upcoming Test series. Everyone takes responsibility and understands their role, which is crucial. Ghazanfar has been outstanding for us over the last 3-4 series, and hopefully, he can maintain his form in the games ahead.
Iām also really happy with the way Malik and Sediq (Sediqullah Atal) batted at the top. Their form is a big positive for us. The great thing about our team is the balanceāwe have experienced players like Nabi, Rashid, and Rahmat, and the youngsters are stepping up as well. Hopefully, we can carry this momentum into the Champions Trophy. Itās the perfect time to achieve something special in that tournament. For now, the players preparing for the Tests are focused and working hard. Weāll enjoy our time here and are looking forward to the Test series."
Craig Ervine (Zimbabwe captain): "Yeah, obviously, weāve got to look ahead to the Test, but I think, throughout this series, we found it quite challenging. A lot of the youngsters were exposed to some quality bowling from the Afghanistan side, and full credit to them. I thought they were absolutely brilliant throughout, whether it was with the bat, the ball, or their spin in the middle overs.
(On biggest batting problem) I think itās always challenging because youāre constantly trying to evolve, improve, and refine your plans, and sometimes those plans donāt work out. Thatās just part of sport. But I thought today we showed a bit more intent and positivity, which was encouraging. A special mention to Sean Williamsāhis innings today was absolutely outstanding.
Yeah, obviously, we head down tomorrow, and with just a couple of days before the Test starts, itās a very quick turnaround for us. The conditions in Bulawayo will be slightly different, so getting there early will be important. Weāll try to train as much as we can, work on our plans for those conditions, and hopefully deliver better performances in the Test matches."
Sediqullah Atal (Player of the Series): "I want to thank the Almighty and my teammates for their unwavering support in every situation. It has been a great series for me, and especially for the young players. The pitch today was better for batting compared to the previous two games, with good bounce, which allowed us to play some quality shots."