Afghanistan’s cricket team are preparing for two Test and three T20I series against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi this week.

The events will begin on March 2 and will end on March 20. All matches will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

The Afghan team has already started training in Abu Dhabi to prepare for the series.

The squad will be led by Asghar Afghan.

Afghanistan last played a Test in November 2019, a one-off encounter against West Indies, which they lost by nine wickets, according to ICC.

Afghan young wicket-keeper batsman Munir Kakar has “made a great start to his UAE tour and looked in great touch already as he scored a terrific unbeaten 125 against Zimbabwe XI in practice three-day match in Abu Dhabi,” ACB announced on Saturday.

The Afghan umpire Ahmad Shah Pakteen will play in Afghanistan's two Test Series against Zimbabwe, according to ACB.

Pakteen will be the first appointed Afghan umpire to officiate in a Test match.

Rashid Khan

Afghanistan’s national cricket star Rashid Khan is likely to miss the first Test match against Zimbabwe “due to a finger injury on his bowling arm,” the Afghanistan Cricket Board said last week.  

“Khan was injured during his stint in the Pakistan Super League where he played for Lahore Qalandars Franchise,” ACB said in a statement.  

It was the first time that Khan played in the PSL.  

Khan left the Lahore Qalandars after playing in just two matches in order to join the Afghan national team. In these two games he delivered a stunning performance, impressing with both bat and ball.