Zimbabwe set to host historic Boxing Day and New Year's Tests against Afghanistan

The teams will first meet in three T20I on 9, 11 and 12 December at Harare Sports Club before playing three ODIs at the same venue on 15, 17 and 19 December.

The historic two-match Test series will take in Bulawayo with Boxing Day Test followed by the New Year's encounter beginning on 2 January.

Zimbabwe has only hosted one Boxing Day Test before, when they faced England in Harare in 1996 in a match that was drawn after being heavily affected by rain.

Since then, Zimbabwe's only other involvement in a Boxing Day Test has been away from home - against New Zealand in Wellington in 2000 and when they played South Africa in their inaugural pink-ball, day-night Test in Gqeberha in 2017.

Zimbabwe have not played a New Year's Test in their history, whether on home soil or abroad.

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani said: "Boxing Day and New Yearâ™s Test matches are iconic cricket fixtures that we are delighted to be adding to our calendar this festive season and we are looking forward to celebrating in style one of the finest traditions in the sport's long history.

"Before the Test series, scheduled for Bulawayo, we will start off with some T20I and ODI action in Harare to complete a full tour, a clear demonstration of our commitment to improve our game across all formats.

"Matches between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are always intense and exciting affairs and we have no doubt the players will once again serve up some great entertainment befitting such an historic tour."

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