Afghanistan secured the tri-series title with a convincing victory over Zimbabwe, strengthening their preparations for upcoming international competitions and the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Afghanistan delivered a dominant all-round performance to defeat Zimbabwe in the final of a triangular cricket series also featuring Bangladesh, showcasing their bowling strength and batting depth ahead of a busy international schedule.
After Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza elected to bat first, Afghanistan’s bowlers made an immediate impact, reducing the hosts to 26-3 in the seventh over.
Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai struck early before Bilal Sami dismissed experienced batter Brendan Taylor for nine runs.
Raza led Zimbabwe’s recovery with a fighting 68, while Ryan Burl added 31. The pair shared a 60-run partnership to steady the innings before Afghanistan struck back.
Burl’s dismissal in the 27th over triggered another collapse, with Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan leading the charge as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 169.
Rashid finished with figures of 3-41, while Sami claimed 2-27. Farooqi and Nabi took two wickets each to restrict Zimbabwe to a modest total.
Zadran Leads Afghanistan to Victory
Afghanistan’s chase was anchored by an unbeaten 70 from Ibrahim Zadran, who guided his team to victory with a composed batting display.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz provided early momentum with 30 runs before his dismissal, as Afghanistan reached 68 in the 10th over.
Zimbabwe attempted to regain control during the middle overs, with Wessly Madhevere dismissing Sediqullah Atal for six. However, the target remained within Afghanistan’s reach.
Captain Rahmat Shah contributed 43 runs and formed a valuable partnership with Zadran. Although Madhevere later dismissed Rahmat, Afghanistan completed the chase in the 35th over to claim the title.
Afghanistan Bounce Back After Opening Defeat
The triumph marked an impressive turnaround for Afghanistan after Zimbabwe began the tournament with a 99-run victory over Bangladesh. Craig Ervine scored 93 in that match, while Taylor contributed 81.
Afghanistan responded strongly, defeating Zimbabwe by 158 runs before beating Bangladesh by seven wickets to book their place in the final.
Rashid Khan was instrumental in those victories, taking eight wickets across the two matches and reinforcing his importance to Afghanistan’s bowling attack.
The tournament also provided valuable opportunities for emerging players, including Sami and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, as Afghanistan continued to strengthen their squad depth ahead of future challenges.
Sharjah to Host Upcoming Series
Afghanistan and Zimbabwe are scheduled to meet again in a three-match Twenty20 international series, followed by a two-match Test series, with all five matches set to take place in Sharjah.
The T20 series is scheduled to begin on October 27, with the remaining matches on October 29 and November 1. The first Test is scheduled for November 5-9, followed by the second from November 13-17.
The upcoming fixtures will offer both sides further opportunities to assess their squads, test emerging talent and build momentum ahead of future international competitions, including the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
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