Fresh off winning the ODI Tri-series against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, the Afghanistan cricket team are flying high as they get set to host Zimbabwe in a 3-match T20I series starting on Tuesday, 26th October, 2026, at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah. All three matches are set to be played there, and the first match is tomorrow, with the match set to start at 8 PM IST.
Afghanistan will be led by Ibrahim Zadran, while Sikandar Raza will lead the Zimbabwe team. Afghanistan, post the World Cup T20 2026, hasn’t played much T20 cricket. They played against India in the first series post that in New Delhi and were thrashed 3-0. They have played ODIs and Tests here and there and have done well. But T20Is have been a small sample size. Zimbabwe have also played T20Is, but haven’t done too well either. An interesting series is on the cards.
Overview
The stage is set for the T20I series in Sharjah as Afghanistan hosts Zimbabwe in a 3-match series. The first match of this series will take place on 27th October, 2026 from 8 PM IST onwards at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, which will host all three matches throughout the course of the week. Both teams are evenly matched in this format, and it will be a great series to watch.
Ibrahim Zadran will lead Afghanistan yet again, and the team has a good blend of youth and experience. Rahmanullah Gurbaz will keep wickets and open the batting with Ibrahim with Sediqullah Atal batting at 3 or expected to bat at 3. Noor Ul Rahman and Zazai are part of the squad. There is Azmatullah Omarzai, their best all-rounder. Shahidullah Kamal is part of the squad alongside Ahmadzai. Afghanistan will be bolstered by the presence of talisman Rashid Khan.
The spin department also consists of Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Fareed Ahmad Malik bolster the pace department. There is the option of Abdullah Ahmadzai as well. Abdullah Tarakhail is also a part of the squad. As we mentioned, Afghanistan hasn’t played much T20I cricket since March 2026. They played the 3-match T20I series against India in New Delhi in the Friendship Cup and lost that convincingly to the reigning champions 3-0. They played only one series, and that was this India one.
Afghanistan will be eager to do well against the Chevrons, who have played more cricket than them. Zimbabwe will be led by Sikandar Raza. Zimbabwe lately played the tri-nation series against South Africa and Namibia and lost in the summit clash to the Proteas. Before that, they lost at home to India 0-3 and lost to Bangladesh 2-1. These were the series played by the Chevrons post the T20 World Cup 2026.
Zimbabwe, led by Sikandar Raza, has Ben Curran in their ranks at the top of the order. Blessing Muzarabani is expected to lead the pace attack. Brad Evans will be his opening pace bowler. Brian Bennett will open the batting and is ever-dependable for the Chevrons. Innocent Kaia is also a talented batter for the Zimbabwe side. Newman Nyamhuri is part of the pace attack. Kundai Matigimu is also part of the squad. Ryan Burl is a handy all-rounder to have in the side with the bat and maybe with the ball as well.
Tadiwanashe Marumani is expected to don the gloves. Tafadza Tsiga is a part of the squad. Zimbabwe boasts of experienced campaigners in Wellington Masakadza and Wessly Madhevere. Vincent Masekesa is a handy spin bowler. They are a decent side and can give Afghanistan a run for their money. The stage is set for an interesting clash between the two sides, and it remains to be seen as to which team comes out on top.
Head-To-Head
Afghanistan and Zimbabwe have played against each other in a total of 21 matches, with Afghanistan winning 19 games and Zimbabwe winning 2 games. The Afghans have dominated the head-to-head record. In the last 10 games, it’s 9-1 in Afghanistan’s favour. They last met on November 2nd, 2025. Can the Chevrons change the script? Only time will tell.
Pitch & Weather ReportÂ
The Pitch at Sharjah tends to play slow and low as the game progresses, rewarding batters who settle in early rather than playing high-risk strokes right away. Spinners traditionally come into play through the middle overs, giving Afghanistan an edge with a strong spin attack including Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi. However, the surface can offer some initial pace and bounce with movement for new-ball fast bowlers. Sharjah features relatively short boundaries, keeping scoring potential high, though slow pitches often make run-scoring tough in the later stages. Winning the toss and opting to chase can be preferred to test the surface and monitor any evening dew.
The weather is expected to be hot and sunny during the day, cooling down slightly into the evening match window with temperatures around 31 degrees Celsius. We expect clear skies with low humidity and gentle winds around 9 km/hr, with virtually no threat of rain disruption.
Probable/Predicted Playing XIs of both sides
Here, we will try to predict the probable playing XIs of both sides.
Afghanistan XI: Ibrahim Zadran (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ijaz Ahmed Ahmadzai, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik.
Zimbabwe XI: Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Wesley Madhevere, Tafadziwa Tsiga, Wellington Masakadza, Brad Evans, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri.
Key Players to watch out for in this clash
Rahmanullah Gurbaz: The diminutive keeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz is a force to reckon with in T20Is. He can be inconsistent but can be brutal on his day. Gurbaz can take the game away from the opposition. Afghanistan will be hoping that Gurbaz gets the team off to a rollicking start in the powerplay and beyond. He will be key to the side.
Rashid Khan: Afghanistan’s MVP, Rashid Khan is a utility cricketer. He has been in a rich vein of form with the ball in hand and was the Player of the Tournament lately. He can be a handy batter down the order and can finish games. Plus, with the ball, he is a bank. In these slow conditions, he will be the key to success for the Afghans for sure. If he does well, Afghanistan will do well.
Brian Bennett: Zimbabwe’s Mr Dependable is Brian Bennett. He has been in great form lately and carries the hopes of the nation on his shoulders. He is expected to anchor the innings and let the others bat around him. His role is clear, and he will want to perform to its fullest. If Bennett does well, Zimbabwe can be competitive; otherwise, he will not be competitive at all.
Blessing Muzarabani:Â The spearhead of the Zimbabwe attack, Blessing Muzarabani, is a key player for the Chevrons. He strikes early in the power play. If he gets going and gets rid of the top order for Afghanistan, then the visitors will have hope as well. If Muzarabani does well, Zimbabwe will do well as well. He is a key component of the team and will hope to lead the Chevrons as well.
Key Stats and Records to look out for in this clash
- Afghanistan has beaten Zimbabwe in all matches played at Sharjah.
- Rashid Khan has picked up 12 wickets in 8 recent T20 matches at a 7.4 economy rate.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 92 off 48 balls in the last meeting between the two sides.
- Ibrahim Zadran has scored 271 runs in 8 matches at an average of 38.71.
Predicted/Possible Outcome of the Match
It is tough to predict a winner in T20I cricket. The team that plays better on the night shall win. But history favours Afghanistan in T20 cricket. So, considering things, we feel Afghanistan will start as strong favourites. Zimbabwe will have to bat out of their skins to win this match and series. Afghanistan will be the favourites and should win the first game.
Let’s see how this match pans out tomorrow night in Sharjah.
Also Read: AFG vs ZIM: Ibrahim Zadran’s Classy Half-Century Shocks Zimbabwe