Zimbabwe Cricket moves Afghanistan white-ball fixtures to boost attendance

Photo Credit: Zimbabwe Cricket

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has rescheduled the upcoming white-ball series against Afghanistan this December to make it easier for fans to attend the matches at Harare Sports Club.

The changes aim to accommodate more spectators by shifting key games to weekends.

The first Twenty20 International (T20I), initially set for 9 December, will now take place on Wednesday, 11 December.

The other two T20Is have been rescheduled to the weekend, with the matches now being played on Friday, 13 December, and Saturday, 14 December.

These adjustments have also affected the One-Day International (ODI) series, with the first ODI now scheduled for Tuesday, 17 December.

The second and third ODIs will follow on Thursday, 19 December, and Saturday, 21 December, respectively.

Originally, the T20Is were slated for 9, 11 and 12 December, while the ODIs were set for 15, 17 and 19 December.

All matches will be played at Harare Sports Club.

ZC Managing Director Givemore Makoni highlighted the importance of the fixture changes.

“We understand the passion our fans have for the game, and we want to give as many people as possible the chance to experience top-level cricket,” he said.

“Moving key matches to the weekend ensures better access for spectators, enhancing the atmosphere at Harare Sports Club.”

However, the historic Test series between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan remains unchanged.

Zimbabwe will host their first Boxing Day Test in 28 years and their inaugural New Year’s Test, both at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

The first Test will run from 26-30 December, followed by the second from 2-6 January.

Zimbabwe’s last Boxing Day Test on home soil was in 1996, against England, which ended in a rain-affected draw at Harare Sports Club.

Since then, they have only participated in Boxing Day Tests abroad, including against New Zealand (2000) and South Africa (2017).

The upcoming New Year’s Test will be a historic first for Zimbabwean cricket.

MATCH SCHEDULE: ZIMBABWE VERSUS AFGHANISTAN

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Name of Author: Zimbabwe Cricket

Zimbabwe Cricket

Zimbabwe Cricket is the governing body for cricket in Zimbabwe. A full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), ZC oversees the national team and organizes international Test, ODI, and T20 matches. It also manages domestic cricket competitions such as the Castle Logan Cup, Coca-Cola Metbank Pro50 Championship, and Stanbic Bank 20 Series.