ODI

AFG vs ZIM Tri-Series Final 2026: Afghanistan Win by 7 Wkts

Published on October 23, 2026

Summary Overview: Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 7 wickets in the ODI tri-series final in Sharjah to win the trophy unbeaten. Rashid Khan took 3 for 41 and Ibrahim Zadran hit 70 not out. Sikandar Raza's 68 was not enough for Zimbabwe.

Who won? Afghanistan, by 7 wickets with 93 balls to spare. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 169 in 43.3 overs, and Afghanistan reached 170 for 3 in 34.3 overs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Who starred? Ibrahim Zadran made 70 not out to see Afghanistan home. Rashid Khan took 3 for 41 and Mohammad Nabi 2 for 25, while Azmatullah Omarzai bowled five overs for just 6 runs.

What about Zimbabwe? Captain Sikandar Raza hit 68 off 83 balls with three sixes, but no one else passed 31.

Did Afghanistan lose a game? No. They won all three of their matches: against Zimbabwe, against Bangladesh, and the final.

The Story: A Perfect Tournament for Afghanistan

Afghanistan arrived in the final as the form team. They had already beaten Zimbabwe by 158 runs earlier in the tournament and topped the table with two wins from two. In Sharjah they made it three from three.

For readers new to cricket: in a One Day International (ODI), each team bats for up to 50 overs (an over is six legal deliveries). A team wins by wickets when it chases down the target; "7 wickets" means Afghanistan lost only three of their ten wickets.

Zimbabwe's Innings: Raza Fights Alone

Raza won the toss and chose to bat, but Zimbabwe lost three wickets for 4 runs early on. Fazalhaq Farooqi bowled Tadiwanashe Marumani, Omarzai caught Brian Bennett off his own bowling, and Farooqi had Tafadzwa Tsiga caught. Zimbabwe were 26 for 3 in the seventh over, and Brendan Taylor fell to Bilal Sami at 55 for 4.

Raza and Ryan Burl (31) rebuilt with a stand of 60, taking Zimbabwe to 115 for 4 in the 27th over. Then Afghanistan's spinners took over.

Turning Point: Five Wickets for 22 Runs

Nabi had Burl caught and then stumped Wessly Madhevere. Rashid trapped Brad Evans lbw, bowled Newman Nyamhuri, and then had Raza caught by Zadran for 68. In just over seven overs, Zimbabwe went from 115 for 4 to 137 for 9.

Blessing Muzarabani (17 not out) and Wellington Masakadza added a stubborn 32 for the last wicket before Bilal Sami trapped Masakadza lbw, but 169 was well short of a competitive total.

Afghanistan's Chase: Zadran Anchors

Rahmanullah Gurbaz gave the chase a fast start with 36 off 31, and Afghanistan were 68 for 1 after 10 overs. Newman Nyamhuri removed Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal to bring Zimbabwe some hope at 80 for 2.

But Ibrahim Zadran and captain Rahmat Shah (43) added 82, and the game was all but over. Rahmat fell to Madhevere with 8 needed, and Zadran finished on 70 not out off 96 balls with Hashmatullah Shahidi (7 not out) alongside him at the finish.

Stat Corner

Top Performers

Player	Team	Performance
Ibrahim Zadran	Afghanistan	*70 (96)**, 4 fours, 1 six
Rashid Khan	Afghanistan	3 for 41 (10 overs)
Mohammad Nabi	Afghanistan	2 for 25 (10 overs, 1 maiden)
Azmatullah Omarzai	Afghanistan	1 for 6 (5 overs, 1 maiden)
Fazalhaq Farooqi	Afghanistan	2 for 41 (7 overs)
Bilal Sami	Afghanistan	2 for 27 (5.3 overs)
Rahmat Shah (c)	Afghanistan	43 (63)
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)	Afghanistan	36 (31), 4 fours, 2 sixes
Sikandar Raza (c)	Zimbabwe	68 (83), 3 fours, 3 sixes
Ryan Burl	Zimbabwe	31 (45), and 0 for 19 (6 overs)
Newman Nyamhuri	Zimbabwe	2 for 30 (6 overs)

* not out

How the Final Turned

Moment	Score
Three wickets for 4 runs	22 for 0 to 26 for 3
Raza and Burl stand	60 for the 5th wicket
Five wickets for 22 runs	115 for 4 to 137 for 9
Last-wicket stand	32 (Masakadza and Muzarabani)
Zimbabwe all out	169 (43.3 overs)
Afghanistan's fast start	68 for 1 (9.4 overs)
Zadran and Rahmat stand	82 for the 3rd wicket
Afghanistan win	170 for 3 (34.3 overs)

Powerplay Comparison

Team	First 10 overs
Zimbabwe	37 for 3
Afghanistan	72 for 1

Afghanistan's Road to the Title

Match	Result
vs Zimbabwe	Won by 158 runs (Atal 102, Rashid 4 for 17)
vs Bangladesh	Won by 7 wickets (Rashid four wickets, Rahmat 67)
Final vs Zimbabwe	Won by 7 wickets

Playing XIs

Team	Playing XI
Afghanistan	Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah (c), Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Zimbabwe	Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Brendan Taylor (wk), Sikandar Raza (c), Wessly Madhevere, Ryan Burl, Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani

Bench: Afghanistan: Yamin Ahmadzai, Ikram Alikhil, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Nangeyalia Kharoti. Zimbabwe: Ben Curran, Ernest Masuku, Vincent Masekesa, Craig Ervine.

What's Next: Three T20Is and Two Tests in Sharjah

The two finalists stay in Sharjah and meet again in three T20Is and two Tests.

Match	Date	Local (GST)	IST	Pakistan	UK	ET
1st T20I	Tue, Oct 27	6:30 PM	8:00 PM	7:30 PM	2:30 PM	10:30 AM
2nd T20I	Thu, Oct 29	6:30 PM	8:00 PM	7:30 PM	2:30 PM	10:30 AM
3rd T20I	Sun, Nov 1	6:30 PM	8:00 PM	7:30 PM	2:30 PM	9:30 AM
1st Test	Thu, Nov 5 to Mon, Nov 9	9:30 AM	11:00 AM	10:30 AM	5:30 AM	12:30 AM
2nd Test	Fri, Nov 13 to Tue, Nov 17	9:30 AM	11:00 AM	10:30 AM	5:30 AM	12:30 AM

Local time is Gulf Standard Time (GST, UTC+4). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). Pakistan is on PKT (UTC+5). UK times are GMT, after the clocks go back on October 25. ET is US Eastern Time: Daylight Time (UTC-4) until November 1, then Standard Time (UTC-5).