Seven uncapped players including Ben Curran included in Zimbabwe's squad for Test series against Afghanistan

Harare, 20 December (HS). Zimbabwe have included seven uncapped players in their squad for the upcoming historic Boxing Day and New Year Test against Afghanistan. These players are batsmen Ben Curran and Jonathan Campbell, wicketkeepers Tadivanashe Marumani and Nyasha Mayavo, fast bowlers Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwa Chatira and Newman Nyamahuri.

Six of these seven players have previously played with the national team in white-ball formats, but 26-year-old right-arm fast bowler Chatira has been included in the national team for the first time. He is currently ranked sixth in the list of wicket-takers for the ongoing Logan Cup first-class competition.

Ben Curran, the middle brother of England internationals Tom and Sam and son of former Zimbabwe international Kevin Curran, has been awarded the award for scoring the most runs in the Logan Cup.

The 18-year-old left-arm fast bowler Nyamahuri, who made his debut for Zimbabwe in the first ODI against Afghanistan and is also part of the T20 squad, now has the opportunity to make his international debut in all three formats within a month.

The experienced quartet of Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarwa form the core of the Test team, which will be led by Craig Erwin.

The selection committee has left out seven players from the Zimbabwe team that played a one-off Test against Ireland in July. They are batsmen Clive Madande, Roy Kaiya and Prince Maswaure, fast bowlers Tendai Chatara, Tanaka Chiwanga and Victor Nyauchi and left-arm orthodox spinner Wellington Masakadza.

The two-Test series will be Zimbabwe's first Boxing Day Test in Zimbabwe since 1996 and their first home New Year Test in their history. Afghanistan has also included seven uncapped players in its team for the series.

Zimbabwe Test squad: Craig Erwin (captain), Ben Curran, Brian Bennett, Jonathan Campbell, Takudzwa Chataira, Joylord Gumbi, Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tadivanashe Marumani, Brandon Mavuta, Nyasha Mayavo, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarawa, Newman. Nyamuri, Alexander Raza, Sean Williams.