AFG vs ZIM Today’s Match Prediction & Cricket Betting Tips: Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe in UAE 2026, 1st T20I, November 5

Afghanistan had a cheerful time during the T20Is as the hosts secured a clean sweep over Zimbabwe 3-0. The two teams will now square off in a 2-match Test series set to kick off on November 5th at the Sharjah Cricket Ground. Afghanistan were clinical in the T20Is and will look to carry on with the winning momentum in the Test matches as well. For Zimbabwe, this Test series will offer them an opportunity to avenge the T20I series loss. Expect a good contest between the two sides, who are almost similar in their style of play in Test cricket. In this post, we have come up with free expert tips for the 1st Test, AFG vs ZIM, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah.

Win Probability: AFG vs ZIM

At Sharjah, the surface will be offering assistance to spinners and slow bowlers. Afghanistan bowlers who love to bowl more and more spin will relish bowling on Sharjah’s surface. Therefore, Afghanistan should start as the favorites in this contest and secure yet another win over Zimbabwe in this tour. As far as Zimbabwe is concerned, yes they head into this contest on the back of two wins in the format which includes a win against Afghanistan as well, but it came at their home. Therefore, expect the win probability meter to slightly lean in favor of Afghanistan. Let’s continue with the post and find out the best cricket tips for the 1st Test, AFG vs ZIM, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah.

ZIM: 48% win chance
AFG: 52% win chance

Afghanistan have managed two draws, two losses and a win against their name in the last five Test matches.
Zimbabwe have secured two wins and succumbed to three losses in their last five Test matches.
In the last three outings between the two sides in this format, both teams have won a game each, and one contest ended as a draw.

Cricket Betting Tips for AFG vs ZIM – 1st Test

Sediqullah Atal to score Over 27.5

Sediq was the lone warrior in the historic draw against Bangladesh with a superlative ton in the second innings. The left-hander will be a key figure in this Test match as well.

Place Bet @ Odds 1.85 »

Rahmat Shah to score Over 31.5

The Afghan skipper will be looking to add more runs to his tally. He scored an unbeaten 105 in the first innings of the Test against Bangladesh. Rahmat will hold the middle order together.

Place Bet @ Odds 1.85 »

AFG vs ZIM Today’s Match Prediction

Check out our prediction for the AFG vs ZIM 1st Test match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah.

Afghanistan will heavily rely on their spinners to unsettle Zimbabwean batters

Afghanistan will enter the first Test against Zimbabwe with plenty of confidence after completing a dominant 3-0 clean sweep in the T20I series. As the action shifts to the longer format at the Sharjah Cricket Ground on November 5, the hosts will once again bank on conditions that are expected to favor spin bowling.

The Sharjah surface has traditionally offered assistance to slower bowlers, and Afghanistan possess the ideal attack to exploit those conditions. Spinners Qais Ahmad and Zia-ur-Rehman are likely to play pivotal roles, with their ability to extract turn and maintain pressure expected to trouble the Zimbabwean batting lineup. If the pitch deteriorates as the match progresses, Afghanistan’s spin resources could become even more threatening.

With the bat, much will rest on the experienced shoulders of captain Rahmat Shah and fellow senior batter Hashmatullah Shahidi. They will be supported by promising talents Sediqullah Atal and Abdul Malik, who have shown the ability to contribute valuable runs. Having enjoyed success in the T20Is, Afghanistan will be eager to carry that momentum into the Test series and begin with a strong performance in Sharjah.

AFG vs ZIM Head-to-Head

Matches Played: 5
AFG won: 2
ZIM won: 2
Draw: 1
RECENT form AFGHANISTAN: D W L L D
RECENT form ZIMBABWE: L L L W W

Afghanistan and Zimbabwe have met five times in Test match cricket. There’s nothing much to separate the two sides as both have won two games each, and one game ended as a draw.

Team Analysis: Zimbabwe and Afghanistan

How will the two teams, i.e., Zimbabwe and Afghanistan, fare in the 1st Test? Let’s take a look.

Zimbabwe (ZIM)

Will be updated once the squad is announced.

Expected Starting 11

Will be updated once the squad is announced.

Afghanistan (AFG)

Afghanistan have named a similar 15-man squad for the series which was selected for the lone Test against Bangladesh.
Afghanistan pulled off a miraculous draw against Bangladesh and should stick with the same eleven for this game.
Sediqullah Atal and Abdul Malik should form the opening pair.
Shahidullah, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, and Ikram Alikhil should form the rest of the batting order.
Qais Ahmad and Zia-ur-Rehman will be the two spin bowling options.
Yamin Ahmadzai, Mohammad Saleem, and Ismat Alam will be the pace bowling options.

Expected Starting 11

Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Shahidullah, Rahmat Shah (C), Hashmatullah Shahidi, Ikram Alikhil (WK), Ismat Alam, Qais Ahmad, Zia-ur-Rehman, Yamin Ahmadzai, Mohammad Saleem

Weather Conditions and Pitch Report

Here’s the pitch and weather report for the 1st Test of Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe in the UAE at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah.

Pitch Report	Weather Report
The Sharjah surface is expected to be dry and conducive to spin bowling as the match progresses.	Conditions are forecast to be clear and sunny throughout the day.
Batters can score freely early on if they apply themselves and spend time at the crease.	Temperatures are expected to be around the low 30s°C during daytime hours.
Spinners are likely to come into the game from Day 2 onwards as the pitch wears.	Rain is not expected to interrupt play.
Teams winning the toss may prefer to bat first and take advantage of the fresher surface.	Dry conditions should aid pitch deterioration over the course of the Test.
Pace bowlers may find some assistance with the new ball but sustained help will be limited.	Humidity is expected to be moderate, typical of Sharjah’s November climate.
Expect spin to play a decisive role, making Afghanistan’s slow-bowling attack a major threat.	Overall, excellent weather is expected for uninterrupted cricket across the opening day.

Toss Prediction

The surface at Sharjah is bound to slow down as the match progresses, which means batting in the fourth innings will be a challenge. Therefore, the toss winning skipper should look to bat first and force the opponent to bat last on a wicket that will slow down each session.

Where to Watch Today’s Match

The online live streaming of the 1st Test match of the Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe Series in the UAE 2026 will take place live on the FANCODE app. The live TV coverage for this series won’t be available in India.

AFG vs ZIM: Today’s Match Predictions

Afghanistan enters this contest buoyed after a 3-0 win in the T20I series and securing a historic draw over Bangladesh. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, heads into this Test series with a win over Afghanistan and Bangladesh in their last two Test matches at home. Both teams are carrying good form, but Afghanistan will be slight favorites considering the conditions in Sharjah will favor their bowling style. Therefore, as per our prediction, the hosts, Afghanistan, are expected to win the AFG vs ZIM 1st Test match.

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