The series marks Zimbabwe’s first Boxing Day Test at home in 28 years and their very first New Year’s Test. The other uncapped players are middle-order batter Johnathan Campbell, wicketkeepers Tadiwanashe Marumani and Nyasha Mayavo alongside fast bowlers Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwa Chataira and Newman Nyamhuri. The squad also has the same number of uncapped players as Zimbabwe's, including Azmatullah Omarzai, Fareed Ahmad, Riaz Hassan and Sediqullah Atal.