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RESULTT20I3rd T20I · Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan
Afghanistan won by 7 wkts
Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bowl
- Match
- Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan, 3rd T20I
- Date
- 1 Nov 2026 to 1 Nov 2026
- Start
- 20:00 IST · 14:30 GMT
- Venue
- Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
- Toss
- Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bowl
- Umpires
- Ahmad Shah Pakteen, Farooq Khan
- Third umpire
- Izatullah Safi
- Match referee
- Hamimullah Hamid
Venue guide
- Capacity
- 16,000
- Opened
- 1982
- Ends
- Pavilion End, Sharjah Club End
- Home to
- United Arab Emirates
- Floodlights
- Yes
Recent meetings
| Noor AhmadAfghanistan · Bowler | 3.3-0-13-5Bowl · O-M-R-W | 3.71Econ |
| Azmatullah OmarzaiAfghanistan · All-rounder | 3Bat · Inns | 141Runs | 70.50Avg | 050s | 1100s | 3Bowl · Inns | 8.0Overs | 4Wkts | 2/39Best |
ZIMZimbabwe 79 (14.3)
AFGAfghanistan 81/3 (8.1)
RUNS PER OVER
SCORE BY OVER
Final overs
Full commentary- A whitewash by Afghanistan and Zimbabwe have a lot of things to ponder as we move to the Tests next. That starts on the 5th of November in Sharjah. Will a change of format bring a change in fortunes for Zimbabwe? We will wait and see. We will be there nice and early for the 1st Test. Do join us then. For now that's it from all of us here. Bye bye and take care.
- Ibrahim Zadran is presented the winning trophy and he is all smiles. Then he gives it to Abdullah Tarakhail as the entire Afghanistan contingent pose as a group for the cameras.
- Ibrahim 2/2: [On assessing the team's overall performance, including the top order and middle-order contributions] I'm very satisfied. There were so many positive things, as you mentioned. We haven't done well in the top order in the first two games. Today, we were quite, you know, good with the start. But if you look at the middle overs, the way Azmat batted, Ijaz batted and Rashid finished in the last two games, it was brilliant. That's a positive sign. If you're going to play against top teams, if you cover that area, then you are not going to struggle. Yes, we didn't have a good series in the top order, but we had a very good start in the powerplay. So, we will think about it and try to sort out, you know, this area as soon as we can. [On sending a message in Pashto to the Afghanistan fans who have supported the team throughout the series] من بچه راغلي مونږ به تشویق کولو هر لوبې ته چې مینه راکوله نو همیشه تاسو نه هیله ده چې په خپلو دعاګانو کې خپل اتلان یا ساتئ. که ښه لوبه کوو که خرابه لوبه کوو، تاسو سپورټ یا اتلانو سره ډېر ضروري ده چې مینه تشویق نه منئ. English translation: You have come and encouraged us at every game and shown us love. I always ask you to remember your heroes in your prayers. Whether we play well or badly, your support and encouragement are very important to us. Keep showing us your love and support.
- Ibrahim Zadran | Afghanistan captain 1/2: [On Afghanistan's overall performance and winning the T20I series against Zimbabwe] Very good series. I'm so happy, you know, with the overall performance and the energy the guys put in. In each and every game, they have shown discipline. That's why, you know, we won three in a row. They have played very good cricket. [On whether he felt pressure as captain, given Afghanistan's previous record of never losing a series to Zimbabwe] To be honest, I heard about it, but I didn't think about it. I was just thinking that we would try to go with a positive mindset and give 100 percent. Then we cannot think about the result. What we can think about is only the process, which is, you know, in our hands. This is what we were doing in every game, and yeah, we just delivered that. And every game, we got the result.
- Raza 2/2: [On the team's batting collapse and being bowled out for 79 in today's match] We've been here before. One thing, for as long as I'm playing, I'll never give up on the boys. I know how hard they work, how much effort they put in. Sometimes these lessons are very important for your own personal growth. But what I would be encouraging them to do is try not to waste these opportunities. Every time you put on the jersey, when you've had a bad game or when you've had a bad tour, try and learn from those lessons and try to be better. If Zimbabwe rocks up for the next tour and does exactly the same, then that means we haven't taken our lessons from the previous tour. And that's where the real problem starts. A lot of the onus is on the boys as well. But from my side, I'll not give up on these boys. I know they have it in them. They just have to find it, and I have to help them find it. [On Zimbabwe's preparation for the upcoming Test match] Yeah, the red-ball squad has been training. So, the six boys that are not part of the white-ball squad have been training pretty well with the coaching staff as well. The rest of the boys have had a decent look at the wicket and decent conditions as well these days. So, I know the Test match will start in the morning, but I'm very sure that that is a format where everybody, if fit, will be a very evenly contested series. We want to be very evenly matched, and I hope that everyone keeps fit.
- Sikandar Raza | Zimbabwe captain 1/2: [On the lessons Zimbabwe have taken from the T20I series in Sharjah, particularly with the bat] I think the new-ball bowling has been fantastic. But I think for us to go forward, we have to understand how to play spinners a lot better and how to play the swinging ball. So, I think if there are two lessons from a batting point of view, it's how to deal with a swinging ball, those guys who swing it, because that has troubled us, and how to play some spin. I think those two lessons need to be learned because every team you play these days has got some swing bowlers and some mystery spinners as well. And so, I think for Zimbabwe to go forward, those are the two areas. On the plus side, I thought the seam department has done really well. [On the strength and depth of Zimbabwe's seam-bowling department, including Kundai Matigimu, Blessing Muzarabani, Ernest Masuku and Wellington Masakadaza] Yeah, certainly. I'd like to add Brad Evans there as well. Brad has bowled really well. Credit to Brad as well. Brad does his job with the first change. Brad comes on, bowls the second over as well, bowls the first over as well. He has also been [unclear]. So, I think we are building something here. But I do think that these guys have carried us. Unfortunately, the batting department has let the seam department down as well. But as a team collectively, there have been positives. But for me, the negatives, or should I say the lessons that we've taken on, outweigh the positives that we've had.
- Azmatullah Omarzai | Player of the Series: [On winning the Player of the Series award for the first time and dedicating it to his elder brother] I feel really happy to get this award. It's my first time getting Player of the Series, and I want to dedicate this award to my big brother (Nawab Umarzai). He's always supporting me, and he is my coach, my personal coach. That's why I want to dedicate this trophy to him. [On his elder brother being a wonderful person and an excellent coach, and asking about his performances with both bat and ball] Honestly, I always enjoy my batting, and whenever I get an opportunity, I want to score more runs. I enjoy my batting, and my favourite is batting. That's why I enjoy it more. [On his favourite shots as a batsman] I think my favourite shot is the cover drive towards mid-off. I love to play that shot. [On his bowling performance, wicket celebration, big six and subsequent back pain] We were trying to have fun there, but Sediqullah was trying to pull me up, and then I went down. That's why my back is paining now. [On whether he is still experiencing pain] Yeah, it's okay now. [On the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) and the opportunities it offers young Afghan cricketers] It's a great opportunity for the youngsters and for Afghanistan cricket. I want to tell our youngsters: when they come here and play in the APL, they should work on their fitness, keep their focus on domestic cricket, come here and enjoy their cricket. It will improve our cricket after the APL, inshallah. I hope we have good youngsters in domestic cricket. If they get highlighted here and play against good teams and great players, they will learn a lot here, and inshallah, they will take more from this experience.
- Noor Ahmad | Player of the Match: [On having Rashid Khan as a mentor and working on specific aspects of his bowling] Yeah, we've been chatting a lot, especially in this series. We started working on some specific things, and I think that worked a lot in the game. But it's still not 100 percent. It's still like 60 or 70 percent, but I need to do a lot of work on that thing to make it 100 percent. But yeah, I think Rashid is someone that, anytime I have any doubts in my mind, he's my go-to person. And yeah, I'm grateful to him for the guidance. [On learning to use the 24-yard delivery that Rashid Khan often employs] Yeah, it's true. Even in the game that I bowled the last one in Cardiff, he told me to bowl from far. And I applied that, and I got a wicket. He's a legend. [On narrowly missing out on a hat-trick and whether he should have given the ball more air after the hat-trick delivery] Yeah, true. I think I should have bowled my best ball for the hat-trick one. But, to be honest, I was struggling a little bit with my hamstring. And like I said, I wasn't 100 percent, but still I pushed myself. So, inshallah, next time I'll try to be 100 percent.
- Tarakhail 2/2: [On the inspiration behind his unusual bowling action, compared with Lasith Malinga and Shaun Tait] If I talk about that, I have also followed fast bowlers. It is my natural action. My coaches have always told me during practice that I should not make changes to it. They tell me that the action I have naturally is very good. So that is the reason. There is nothing particularly special behind it.
- Abdullah Tarakhail | Translated from Pashto 1/2: [On receiving his 73rd cap from Rashid Khan and what the occasion meant to him] I am very happy. It was a day of great honour and happiness for me. It is every player's dream and ambition to play at the international level. I am happy because I had messaged Rashid Khan back in 2023, saying that, Inshallah, one day you will see me standing alongside you in the Afghanistan jersey, and I will make my debut with you. So today, I received my cap from Rashid Khan, and that is a very happy moment for me. I would also like to thank my entire team and the coaches, because they make me feel as though I am not playing at the national level but rather in domestic cricket. I thank everyone for giving me so much support. [On his first international wicket, dismissing the in-form Sikandar Raza, and the advice he received from Ibrahim Zadran and Rashid Khan] When I was standing with Ibrahim, he told me that whatever you are best at, just do that. There is no need to do anything extra. I trusted myself. I didn't think I would come into the circle, but suddenly Ibrahim called me and told me that I would bowl. However, I was mentally prepared for it. I had a lot of confidence in myself. Obviously, there is always some pressure for a player playing his first international match, but I was mentally ready, and I also had the support of the team. So I just concentrated on my bowling, did what I had to do, and that is how Sikandar's wicket came.
- 20:51 Local Time, 16:51 GMT, 22:21 IST: A thrashing this as Afghanistan clean-sweep Zimbabwe. Smiles from Azmatullah Omarzai and Ibrahim Zadran as they chat while Sikandar Raza just puts his head down and walks off. He will vent it out in the post-match presentation. That's for sure. I will be keenly listening to what he says. This was an easy chase once Zimbabwe folded for 79. Mohammad Akram started in a hurry and wanted to end this very early but after a hat-trick of fours, he fell to Muzarabani in the opening over. Masuku struck twice in one over to bring some cheer for his side but the eventual result was never in doubt. The whole game lasted 22.4 overs and if there was one moment which summed up Zimbabwe's fortunes tonight, then it was Tadiwanashe Marumani's drop of Omarzai and the subsequent reactions from Muzarabani and Raza. Stay tuned for the post-match stuff....
- Over 9 · 6 runs (6)
- 8.16Vincent Masekesa to Azmatullah Omarzai, SIX, Azmatullah Omarzai ends things with a big six. It's a half-tracker on middle-stump, Omarzai goes on the back foot and pulls, way back over wide long-on. Flies into the top-tier and into the crowd. Omarzai goes to Ibrahim Zadran to pat him and then the post-match formalities begin
- Vincent Masekesa, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack
- End of over 8 · 3 runs (0 2 0 1 0 0)AFG 75/3Ibrahim Zadran 25(17) · Azmatullah Omarzai 12(11) · Blessing Muzarabani 3-0-31-1
- 7.6•Blessing Muzarabani to Ibrahim Zadran, no run, short of length and tight on off, no room at all, Ibrahim Zadran defends it back and Blessing Muzarabani sticks out a left hand to stop it
- 7.5•Blessing Muzarabani to Ibrahim Zadran, no run, back of a length on middle, tucks up Ibrahim Zadran who goes on the back foot and turns it to mid-wicket
- 7.41Blessing Muzarabani to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, short of length outside off, Azmatullah Omarzai goes on the back foot and opens the face of the bat to run it down to third man
- 7.3•Blessing Muzarabani to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, that sums up Zimbabwe's performance today. Blessing Muzarabani is aghast. The camera pans to Raza who is chewing his gum and just looks serious. Dropped by Tadiwanashe Marumani. Length delivery on middle, Azmatullah Omarzai backs away to loft, the thick outside edge and Marumani initally wanted to reverse-cup that, then as it comes to him, he changes his mind and goes the conventional way. Drops it. Still has a chance at the rebound, but can't grab that. Muzarabani lets out his emotions as he's not happy at all. Raza too the same, but he does well not to show it on camera
- 7.22Blessing Muzarabani to Azmatullah Omarzai, 2 runs, short of length and hard length again, on middle-stump, Azmatullah Omarzai gets forward to pull, doesn't time it but manages to clear mid-wicket who prevents the boundary
- 7.1•Blessing Muzarabani to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, short of length and hard length on off, Azmatullah Omarzai goes on the back foot to defend to the right of backward point. Sent back by Ibrahim Zadran
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Bennettc Ibrahim Zadran b Azmatullah Omarzai | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.7 |
| Innocent Kaiac Noor ul Rahman b Fazalhaq Farooqi | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 125.0 |
| Sikandar Razac Ibrahim Zadran b Abdullah Tarakhail | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 25.0 |
| Ryan Burllbw b Abdullah Ahmadzai | 30 | 29 | 5 | 0 | 103.4 |
| Wessly Madheverest Noor ul Rahman b Noor Ahmad | 10 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 58.8 |
| Tadiwanashe Marumanic Azmatullah Omarzai b Noor Ahmad | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.7 |
| Tafadzwa Tsigac Ibrahim Zadran b Noor Ahmad | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Newman Nyamhurib Noor Ahmad | 9 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 90.0 |
| Blessing Muzarabanic Azmatullah Omarzai b Abdullah Tarakhail | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.0 |
| Ernest Masukulbw b Noor Ahmad | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 120.0 |
| Vincent Masekesa*not out | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Extras12 (b 0, lb 4, w 6, nb 2)
Total79 (14.3 ov, RR 5.45)
Fall of wickets: 8-1 (Innocent Kaia, 1.0 ov), 8-2 (Brian Bennett, 1.1 ov), 13-3 (Sikandar Raza, 3.2 ov), 56-4 (Ryan Burl, 9.5 ov), 59-5 (Wessly Madhevere, 10.3 ov), 59-6 (Tafadzwa Tsiga, 10.4 ov), 60-7 (Tadiwanashe Marumani, 11.0 ov), 72-8 (Newman Nyamhuri, 12.3 ov), 74-9 (Blessing Muzarabani, 13.3 ov), 79-10 (Ernest Masuku, 14.3 ov)
| Bowler · AFG | O | M | R | W | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 5.00 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 2 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 6.50 |
| Abdullah Tarakhail | 3 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 4.67 |
| Rashid Khan | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3.50 |
| Noor Ahmad | 3.3 | 0 | 13 | 5 | 3.71 |
| Abdullah Ahmadzai | 2 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 9.00 |
Zimbabwe- 1Brian BennettAll-rounder
- 2Innocent KaiaAll-rounder
- 3Sikandar Raza(c)All-rounder
- 4Ryan BurlAll-rounder
- 5Tadiwanashe Marumani(wk)Wicketkeeper
- 6Wessly MadhevereAll-rounder
- 7Tafadzwa TsigaWicketkeeper
- 8Ernest MasukuBowler
- 9Newman NyamhuriBowler
- 10Vincent MasekesaAll-rounder
- 11Blessing MuzarabaniBowler
Bench
Afghanistan- 1Ibrahim Zadran(c)Batter
- 2Mohammad AkramBatter
- 3Sediqullah AtalBatter
- 4Ijaz Ahmad AhmadzaiAll-rounder
- 5Noor ul Rahman(wk)Wicketkeeper
- 6Azmatullah OmarzaiAll-rounder
- 7Abdullah TarakhailBowler
- 8Rashid KhanAll-rounder
- 9Noor AhmadBowler
- 10Abdullah AhmadzaiBowler
- 11Fazalhaq FarooqiBowler
Bench
- 8.16Vincent Masekesa to Azmatullah Omarzai, SIX, Azmatullah Omarzai ends things with a big six. It's a half-tracker on middle-stump, Omarzai goes on the back foot and pulls, way back over wide long-on. Flies into the top-tier and into the crowd. Omarzai goes to Ibrahim Zadran to pat him and then the post-match formalities begin
- 7.3DDropped catchBlessing Muzarabani to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, that sums up Zimbabwe's performance today. Blessing Muzarabani is aghast. The camera pans to Raza who is chewing his gum and just looks serious. Dropped by Tadiwanashe Marumani. Length delivery on middle, Azmatullah Omarzai backs away to loft, the thick outside edge and Marumani initally wanted to reverse-cup that, then as it comes to him, he changes his mind and goes the conventional way. Drops it. Still has a chance at the rebound, but can't grab that. Muzarabani lets out his emotions as he's not happy at all. Raza too the same, but he does well not to show it on camera
- 6.64Masuku to Ibrahim Zadran, FOUR, Ernest Masuku with a resigned look on his face. He can't believe that he has been taken for four fours in the over. Fullish outside off, Ibrahim Zadran gets forward and lofts on the rise. This is a much better connection and flies over mid-on. Just 8 needed now
- 6.54Masuku to Ibrahim Zadran, FOUR, third four of the over. Full outside off, Ibrahim Zadran gets forward and lofts easily over mid-off. Didn't time it but he manages to clear Raza. More off the bottom of the bat
- 6.24Masuku to Ibrahim Zadran, FOUR, dismissive! Full and in the slot outside off, Ibrahim Zadran gets forward and punishes it with a full-blooded drive straight down the ground. He wants to end this quickly
- 6.14Masuku to Ibrahim Zadran, FOUR, that's a shot he plays so well. If you are too straight, he will play the pickup heave over mid-wicket. Full and angled in on middle, Ibrahim Zadran doesn't miss out
- 5.36Newman Nyamhuri to Azmatullah Omarzai, SIX, out of the ground over deep point. We need another ball. On a short of length outside off, width and Azmatullah Omarzai goes on the back foot to slash that. Flies off the meat of the bat and lands on the roof on the deep point fence
- 4.6WMasuku to Noor ul Rahman, out Lbw!! Ernest Masuku with a big come on as he roars in delight. Length delivery and bowled from very wide of the crease. Angled in and then it straightens on middle-stump, opens Noor ul Rahman up, who was looking to defend, misses. Hit on the back leg and Farooq Khan takes his time before raising the finger. Pretty fair call that. At least would've clipped the stumps at worst. Two in the over and something to cheer for Zimbabwe. Noor ul Rahman lbw b Masuku 0(2)
- 4.4WMasuku to Sediqullah Atal, out Caught by Madhevere!! Sediqullah Atal has found backward point. He gestures with a resigned look on his face to Ibrahim Zadran that there was extra bounce on this one. Also Atal looks at the spot where the ball landed before walking off. He's batting well outside his crease, this is short of length and angled across him outside off, he gets forward to punch and doesn't keep it down. Madhevere expected the ball to come quickly to him and almost misjudges it. But hangs on over his head with two hands as the ball loops to him. Ernest Masuku celebrates by clapping. He is thrilled. Sediqullah Atal c Madhevere b Masuku 20(14) [4s-2 6s-1]
- 3.34Newman Nyamhuri to Sediqullah Atal, FOUR, beautiful square-drive. Fullish outside off, Sediqullah Atal gets forward and drives, beats the dive of backward point to his left. He played a magnificent back foot punch in the last over and now one off the front foot. Shows what a classy player he is
- 2.44Blessing Muzarabani to Sediqullah Atal, FOUR, what a classical back foot punch that is. Sediqullah Atal is a tall man, he rises even taller and punches the short of length delivery from outside off wide of short cover's right as he dives and then extra-cover's left who doesn't dive. Raced away to the fence. High-elbow and superb timing
- 2.36Blessing Muzarabani to Sediqullah Atal, SIX, thick top-edge and clears Nyamhuri at deep backward square-leg. Hard back of a length into the pitch, Sediqullah Atal goes on the back foot and pulls, the top-edge flies and just clears Nyamhuri
- 0.4WBlessing Muzarabani to Mohammad Akram, out Caught by Sikandar Raza!! Mohammad Akram goes. He shadow-practices the forward defence after playing an ugly shot. Hard back of a length into the pitch on off-stump, Akram tries to pull and is in no position at all. High on the bat and a total miscue, it lobs to mid-off for the simplest of catches. Mohammad Akram c Sikandar Raza b Blessing Muzarabani 14(5) [4s-3]
- 0.24Blessing Muzarabani to Mohammad Akram, FOUR, an action replay of the 1st ball of the over. On a short of length outside off, Mohammad Akram slashes and the thick outside edge flies over slip. Three boundaries to begin the chase
- 0.14Blessing Muzarabani to Mohammad Akram, FOUR, the free-hit goes for four. Mohammad Akram picks the slower-ball, on a good length on off, waits and then gets forward to heave to the deep mid-wicket fence
- 0.14Blessing Muzarabani to Mohammad Akram, no ball, FOUR, what a bad start for Blessing Muzarabani and Zimbabwe. He oversteps by a long way. On a short of length outside off, Mohammad Akram slashes and the thick outside edge easily clears the slip to his right. A free-hit coming up for Akram next
- A whitewash by Afghanistan and Zimbabwe have a lot of things to ponder as we move to the Tests next. That starts on the 5th of November in Sharjah. Will a change of format bring a change in fortunes for Zimbabwe? We will wait and see. We will be there nice and early for the 1st Test. Do join us then. For now that's it from all of us here. Bye bye and take care.
- Ibrahim Zadran is presented the winning trophy and he is all smiles. Then he gives it to Abdullah Tarakhail as the entire Afghanistan contingent pose as a group for the cameras.
- Ibrahim 2/2: [On assessing the team's overall performance, including the top order and middle-order contributions] I'm very satisfied. There were so many positive things, as you mentioned. We haven't done well in the top order in the first two games. Today, we were quite, you know, good with the start. But if you look at the middle overs, the way Azmat batted, Ijaz batted and Rashid finished in the last two games, it was brilliant. That's a positive sign. If you're going to play against top teams, if you cover that area, then you are not going to struggle. Yes, we didn't have a good series in the top order, but we had a very good start in the powerplay. So, we will think about it and try to sort out, you know, this area as soon as we can. [On sending a message in Pashto to the Afghanistan fans who have supported the team throughout the series] من بچه راغلي مونږ به تشویق کولو هر لوبې ته چې مینه راکوله نو همیشه تاسو نه هیله ده چې په خپلو دعاګانو کې خپل اتلان یا ساتئ. که ښه لوبه کوو که خرابه لوبه کوو، تاسو سپورټ یا اتلانو سره ډېر ضروري ده چې مینه تشویق نه منئ. English translation: You have come and encouraged us at every game and shown us love. I always ask you to remember your heroes in your prayers. Whether we play well or badly, your support and encouragement are very important to us. Keep showing us your love and support.
- Ibrahim Zadran | Afghanistan captain 1/2: [On Afghanistan's overall performance and winning the T20I series against Zimbabwe] Very good series. I'm so happy, you know, with the overall performance and the energy the guys put in. In each and every game, they have shown discipline. That's why, you know, we won three in a row. They have played very good cricket. [On whether he felt pressure as captain, given Afghanistan's previous record of never losing a series to Zimbabwe] To be honest, I heard about it, but I didn't think about it. I was just thinking that we would try to go with a positive mindset and give 100 percent. Then we cannot think about the result. What we can think about is only the process, which is, you know, in our hands. This is what we were doing in every game, and yeah, we just delivered that. And every game, we got the result.
- Raza 2/2: [On the team's batting collapse and being bowled out for 79 in today's match] We've been here before. One thing, for as long as I'm playing, I'll never give up on the boys. I know how hard they work, how much effort they put in. Sometimes these lessons are very important for your own personal growth. But what I would be encouraging them to do is try not to waste these opportunities. Every time you put on the jersey, when you've had a bad game or when you've had a bad tour, try and learn from those lessons and try to be better. If Zimbabwe rocks up for the next tour and does exactly the same, then that means we haven't taken our lessons from the previous tour. And that's where the real problem starts. A lot of the onus is on the boys as well. But from my side, I'll not give up on these boys. I know they have it in them. They just have to find it, and I have to help them find it. [On Zimbabwe's preparation for the upcoming Test match] Yeah, the red-ball squad has been training. So, the six boys that are not part of the white-ball squad have been training pretty well with the coaching staff as well. The rest of the boys have had a decent look at the wicket and decent conditions as well these days. So, I know the Test match will start in the morning, but I'm very sure that that is a format where everybody, if fit, will be a very evenly contested series. We want to be very evenly matched, and I hope that everyone keeps fit.
- Sikandar Raza | Zimbabwe captain 1/2: [On the lessons Zimbabwe have taken from the T20I series in Sharjah, particularly with the bat] I think the new-ball bowling has been fantastic. But I think for us to go forward, we have to understand how to play spinners a lot better and how to play the swinging ball. So, I think if there are two lessons from a batting point of view, it's how to deal with a swinging ball, those guys who swing it, because that has troubled us, and how to play some spin. I think those two lessons need to be learned because every team you play these days has got some swing bowlers and some mystery spinners as well. And so, I think for Zimbabwe to go forward, those are the two areas. On the plus side, I thought the seam department has done really well. [On the strength and depth of Zimbabwe's seam-bowling department, including Kundai Matigimu, Blessing Muzarabani, Ernest Masuku and Wellington Masakadaza] Yeah, certainly. I'd like to add Brad Evans there as well. Brad has bowled really well. Credit to Brad as well. Brad does his job with the first change. Brad comes on, bowls the second over as well, bowls the first over as well. He has also been [unclear]. So, I think we are building something here. But I do think that these guys have carried us. Unfortunately, the batting department has let the seam department down as well. But as a team collectively, there have been positives. But for me, the negatives, or should I say the lessons that we've taken on, outweigh the positives that we've had.
- Azmatullah Omarzai | Player of the Series: [On winning the Player of the Series award for the first time and dedicating it to his elder brother] I feel really happy to get this award. It's my first time getting Player of the Series, and I want to dedicate this award to my big brother (Nawab Umarzai). He's always supporting me, and he is my coach, my personal coach. That's why I want to dedicate this trophy to him. [On his elder brother being a wonderful person and an excellent coach, and asking about his performances with both bat and ball] Honestly, I always enjoy my batting, and whenever I get an opportunity, I want to score more runs. I enjoy my batting, and my favourite is batting. That's why I enjoy it more. [On his favourite shots as a batsman] I think my favourite shot is the cover drive towards mid-off. I love to play that shot. [On his bowling performance, wicket celebration, big six and subsequent back pain] We were trying to have fun there, but Sediqullah was trying to pull me up, and then I went down. That's why my back is paining now. [On whether he is still experiencing pain] Yeah, it's okay now. [On the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) and the opportunities it offers young Afghan cricketers] It's a great opportunity for the youngsters and for Afghanistan cricket. I want to tell our youngsters: when they come here and play in the APL, they should work on their fitness, keep their focus on domestic cricket, come here and enjoy their cricket. It will improve our cricket after the APL, inshallah. I hope we have good youngsters in domestic cricket. If they get highlighted here and play against good teams and great players, they will learn a lot here, and inshallah, they will take more from this experience.
- Noor Ahmad | Player of the Match: [On having Rashid Khan as a mentor and working on specific aspects of his bowling] Yeah, we've been chatting a lot, especially in this series. We started working on some specific things, and I think that worked a lot in the game. But it's still not 100 percent. It's still like 60 or 70 percent, but I need to do a lot of work on that thing to make it 100 percent. But yeah, I think Rashid is someone that, anytime I have any doubts in my mind, he's my go-to person. And yeah, I'm grateful to him for the guidance. [On learning to use the 24-yard delivery that Rashid Khan often employs] Yeah, it's true. Even in the game that I bowled the last one in Cardiff, he told me to bowl from far. And I applied that, and I got a wicket. He's a legend. [On narrowly missing out on a hat-trick and whether he should have given the ball more air after the hat-trick delivery] Yeah, true. I think I should have bowled my best ball for the hat-trick one. But, to be honest, I was struggling a little bit with my hamstring. And like I said, I wasn't 100 percent, but still I pushed myself. So, inshallah, next time I'll try to be 100 percent.
- Tarakhail 2/2: [On the inspiration behind his unusual bowling action, compared with Lasith Malinga and Shaun Tait] If I talk about that, I have also followed fast bowlers. It is my natural action. My coaches have always told me during practice that I should not make changes to it. They tell me that the action I have naturally is very good. So that is the reason. There is nothing particularly special behind it.
- Abdullah Tarakhail | Translated from Pashto 1/2: [On receiving his 73rd cap from Rashid Khan and what the occasion meant to him] I am very happy. It was a day of great honour and happiness for me. It is every player's dream and ambition to play at the international level. I am happy because I had messaged Rashid Khan back in 2023, saying that, Inshallah, one day you will see me standing alongside you in the Afghanistan jersey, and I will make my debut with you. So today, I received my cap from Rashid Khan, and that is a very happy moment for me. I would also like to thank my entire team and the coaches, because they make me feel as though I am not playing at the national level but rather in domestic cricket. I thank everyone for giving me so much support. [On his first international wicket, dismissing the in-form Sikandar Raza, and the advice he received from Ibrahim Zadran and Rashid Khan] When I was standing with Ibrahim, he told me that whatever you are best at, just do that. There is no need to do anything extra. I trusted myself. I didn't think I would come into the circle, but suddenly Ibrahim called me and told me that I would bowl. However, I was mentally prepared for it. I had a lot of confidence in myself. Obviously, there is always some pressure for a player playing his first international match, but I was mentally ready, and I also had the support of the team. So I just concentrated on my bowling, did what I had to do, and that is how Sikandar's wicket came.
- 20:51 Local Time, 16:51 GMT, 22:21 IST: A thrashing this as Afghanistan clean-sweep Zimbabwe. Smiles from Azmatullah Omarzai and Ibrahim Zadran as they chat while Sikandar Raza just puts his head down and walks off. He will vent it out in the post-match presentation. That's for sure. I will be keenly listening to what he says. This was an easy chase once Zimbabwe folded for 79. Mohammad Akram started in a hurry and wanted to end this very early but after a hat-trick of fours, he fell to Muzarabani in the opening over. Masuku struck twice in one over to bring some cheer for his side but the eventual result was never in doubt. The whole game lasted 22.4 overs and if there was one moment which summed up Zimbabwe's fortunes tonight, then it was Tadiwanashe Marumani's drop of Omarzai and the subsequent reactions from Muzarabani and Raza. Stay tuned for the post-match stuff....
- Over 9 · 6 runs (6)
- 8.16Vincent Masekesa to Azmatullah Omarzai, SIX, Azmatullah Omarzai ends things with a big six. It's a half-tracker on middle-stump, Omarzai goes on the back foot and pulls, way back over wide long-on. Flies into the top-tier and into the crowd. Omarzai goes to Ibrahim Zadran to pat him and then the post-match formalities begin
- Vincent Masekesa, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack
- End of over 8 · 3 runs (0 2 0 1 0 0)AFG 75/3Ibrahim Zadran 25(17) · Azmatullah Omarzai 12(11) · Blessing Muzarabani 3-0-31-1
- 7.6•Blessing Muzarabani to Ibrahim Zadran, no run, short of length and tight on off, no room at all, Ibrahim Zadran defends it back and Blessing Muzarabani sticks out a left hand to stop it
- 7.5•Blessing Muzarabani to Ibrahim Zadran, no run, back of a length on middle, tucks up Ibrahim Zadran who goes on the back foot and turns it to mid-wicket
- 7.41Blessing Muzarabani to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, short of length outside off, Azmatullah Omarzai goes on the back foot and opens the face of the bat to run it down to third man
- 7.3•Blessing Muzarabani to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, that sums up Zimbabwe's performance today. Blessing Muzarabani is aghast. The camera pans to Raza who is chewing his gum and just looks serious. Dropped by Tadiwanashe Marumani. Length delivery on middle, Azmatullah Omarzai backs away to loft, the thick outside edge and Marumani initally wanted to reverse-cup that, then as it comes to him, he changes his mind and goes the conventional way. Drops it. Still has a chance at the rebound, but can't grab that. Muzarabani lets out his emotions as he's not happy at all. Raza too the same, but he does well not to show it on camera
- 7.22Blessing Muzarabani to Azmatullah Omarzai, 2 runs, short of length and hard length again, on middle-stump, Azmatullah Omarzai gets forward to pull, doesn't time it but manages to clear mid-wicket who prevents the boundary
- 7.1•Blessing Muzarabani to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, short of length and hard length on off, Azmatullah Omarzai goes on the back foot to defend to the right of backward point. Sent back by Ibrahim Zadran
- Blessing Muzarabani [2.0-0-28-1] is back into the attack
- End of over 7 · 18 runs (4 4 1 1 4 4)AFG 72/3Ibrahim Zadran 25(15) · Azmatullah Omarzai 9(7) · Ernest Masuku 2-0-21-2
- 6.64Masuku to Ibrahim Zadran, FOUR, Ernest Masuku with a resigned look on his face. He can't believe that he has been taken for four fours in the over. Fullish outside off, Ibrahim Zadran gets forward and lofts on the rise. This is a much better connection and flies over mid-on. Just 8 needed now
- 6.54Masuku to Ibrahim Zadran, FOUR, third four of the over. Full outside off, Ibrahim Zadran gets forward and lofts easily over mid-off. Didn't time it but he manages to clear Raza. More off the bottom of the bat
- 6.41Masuku to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, full and angled in, Azmatullah Omarzai gets forward to flick wide of mid-on for one
- 6.31Masuku to Ibrahim Zadran, 1 run, almost yorker length on leg-stump, Ibrahim Zadran flicks to deep backward square-leg
- 6.24Masuku to Ibrahim Zadran, FOUR, dismissive! Full and in the slot outside off, Ibrahim Zadran gets forward and punishes it with a full-blooded drive straight down the ground. He wants to end this quickly
- 6.14Masuku to Ibrahim Zadran, FOUR, that's a shot he plays so well. If you are too straight, he will play the pickup heave over mid-wicket. Full and angled in on middle, Ibrahim Zadran doesn't miss out
- End of over 6 · 10 runs (2wd 2 0 6 0 0 0)AFG 54/3Azmatullah Omarzai 8(6) · Ibrahim Zadran 8(10) · Newman Nyamhuri 3-0-23-0
- 5.6•Newman Nyamhuri to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, slower-ball on a good length on leg-stump, Azmatullah Omarzai watchfully knocks it to mid-wicket
- 5.5•Newman Nyamhuri to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, full outside off, Azmatullah Omarzai gets forward and crashes the drive but straight to the fielder at mid-off
- 5.4•Newman Nyamhuri to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, short of length outside off, Azmatullah Omarzai goes on the back foot and cuts, but finds cover-point
- A break in play. Gurbaz comes and lovingly rubs Azmatullah Omarzai on his back. Meanwhile Sikandar Raza is having a chat with Newman Nyamhuri. And the ball is found outside the ground. A gentleman as my esteemed colleague Sagar Chawla would call him, helps out as he flings it back from the road outside. Omarzai is down and the physio is out there. He is being stretched. Now Omarzai is ready and we will go again..
- 5.36Newman Nyamhuri to Azmatullah Omarzai, SIX, out of the ground over deep point. We need another ball. On a short of length outside off, width and Azmatullah Omarzai goes on the back foot to slash that. Flies off the meat of the bat and lands on the roof on the deep point fence
- 5.2•Newman Nyamhuri to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, nicely bowled. Length delivery and angling away from the right-hander, pacy delivery, no feet from Azmatullah Omarzai as he pushes at it and is beaten on the outside edge
- 5.12Newman Nyamhuri to Azmatullah Omarzai, 2 runs, full on off, Azmatullah Omarzai gets forward and shows the full face of the bat to drive wide of extra-cover and mid-off. Nice way to get off the mark
- 5.12wdNewman Nyamhuri to Ibrahim Zadran, 2 wides, miles outside off. Newman Nyamhuri totally lost that from the hand. Tadiwanashe Marumani prevents four more with a desperate dive to his right
- Azmatullah Omarzai, right handed bat, comes to the crease
- End of over 5 · 3 runs (2 1 0 W 0 W) · 2 wktAFG 44/3Noor ul Rahman 0(2) · Ibrahim Zadran 8(10) · Ernest Masuku 1-0-3-2
- 4.6WMasuku to Noor ul Rahman, out Lbw!! Ernest Masuku with a big come on as he roars in delight. Length delivery and bowled from very wide of the crease. Angled in and then it straightens on middle-stump, opens Noor ul Rahman up, who was looking to defend, misses. Hit on the back leg and Farooq Khan takes his time before raising the finger. Pretty fair call that. At least would've clipped the stumps at worst. Two in the over and something to cheer for Zimbabwe. Noor ul Rahman lbw b Masuku 0(2)
- Masuku to Noor ul Rahman, THATS OUT!! Lbw!!
- 4.5•Masuku to Noor ul Rahman, no run, short of length outside off, Noor ul Rahman looks to cut and misses. Flies over the edge
- Noor ul Rahman, right handed bat, comes to the crease
- 4.4WMasuku to Sediqullah Atal, out Caught by Madhevere!! Sediqullah Atal has found backward point. He gestures with a resigned look on his face to Ibrahim Zadran that there was extra bounce on this one. Also Atal looks at the spot where the ball landed before walking off. He's batting well outside his crease, this is short of length and angled across him outside off, he gets forward to punch and doesn't keep it down. Madhevere expected the ball to come quickly to him and almost misjudges it. But hangs on over his head with two hands as the ball loops to him. Ernest Masuku celebrates by clapping. He is thrilled. Sediqullah Atal c Madhevere b Masuku 20(14) [4s-2 6s-1]
- Masuku to Sediqullah Atal, THATS OUT!! Caught!!
- 4.3•Masuku to Sediqullah Atal, no run, good length on middle, Sediqullah Atal goes on the back foot to defend to mid-on. Got right behind that
- 4.21Masuku to Ibrahim Zadran, 1 run, back of a length on leg-stump, flicked to backward square leg for a quick single
- 4.12Masuku to Ibrahim Zadran, 2 runs, fullish and angling into the right-hander on middle, Ibrahim Zadran gets forward and with a straight bat drives wide of Muzarabani at mid-on. Doesn't have the timing and it's just two
- Ernest Masuku, right-arm medium, comes into the attack
- End of over 4 · 8 runs (0 2 4 0 0 2)AFG 41/1Sediqullah Atal 20(12) · Ibrahim Zadran 5(8) · Newman Nyamhuri 2-0-13-0
- 3.62Newman Nyamhuri to Sediqullah Atal, 2 runs, short of length outside off, Sediqullah Atal goes on the back foot to pull, off the bottom of the bat but gets lucky as he clears mid-on. Raza runs back to keep it to two
- 3.5•Newman Nyamhuri to Sediqullah Atal, no run, slower-ball off-cutter on a good length outside off, Sediqullah Atal gets forward to push to cover
- 3.4•Newman Nyamhuri to Sediqullah Atal, no run, length delivery and sliding down leg, did it brush the thigh pad of Sediqullah Atal? Ahmad Shah Pakteen thinks so and doesn't signal a wide. Good take by Tadiwanashe Marumani diving to his right
- 3.34Newman Nyamhuri to Sediqullah Atal, FOUR, beautiful square-drive. Fullish outside off, Sediqullah Atal gets forward and drives, beats the dive of backward point to his left. He played a magnificent back foot punch in the last over and now one off the front foot. Shows what a classy player he is
- 3.22Newman Nyamhuri to Sediqullah Atal, 2 runs, length delivery outside off, Sediqullah Atal flashes and third man has work to do to his right. He gets there with a dive and cuts it off. Saves two
- 3.1•Newman Nyamhuri to Sediqullah Atal, no run, short of length and tucks up Sediqullah Atal on middle, he goes on the back foot and turns it to mid-wicket
- End of over 3 · 13 runs (1 1 6 4 1 0)AFG 33/1Ibrahim Zadran 5(8) · Sediqullah Atal 12(6) · Blessing Muzarabani 2-0-28-1
- 2.6•Blessing Muzarabani to Ibrahim Zadran, no run, back of a length and nips back in to middle, Ibrahim Zadran goes on the back foot and punches to cover's left. Wants a run but sent back
- 2.51Blessing Muzarabani to Sediqullah Atal, 1 run, back of a length on middle, Sediqullah Atal goes on the back foot and turns it to the vacant square leg area
- 2.44Blessing Muzarabani to Sediqullah Atal, FOUR, what a classical back foot punch that is. Sediqullah Atal is a tall man, he rises even taller and punches the short of length delivery from outside off wide of short cover's right as he dives and then extra-cover's left who doesn't dive. Raced away to the fence. High-elbow and superb timing
- 2.36Blessing Muzarabani to Sediqullah Atal, SIX, thick top-edge and clears Nyamhuri at deep backward square-leg. Hard back of a length into the pitch, Sediqullah Atal goes on the back foot and pulls, the top-edge flies and just clears Nyamhuri
- 2.21Blessing Muzarabani to Ibrahim Zadran, 1 run, short of length and top of off, Ibrahim Zadran goes on the back foot and defends in front of cover for an easy single
- 2.11Blessing Muzarabani to Sediqullah Atal, 1 run, full outside off, Sediqullah Atal comes down the track to drive and mistimes it in front of mid-off for one
- End of over 2 · 5 runs (0 0 0 2 wd 2 0)AFG 20/1Ibrahim Zadran 4(6) · Sediqullah Atal 0(2) · Newman Nyamhuri 1-0-5-0
- 1.6•Newman Nyamhuri to Ibrahim Zadran, no run, full on off, Ibrahim Zadran with a nice cover-drive but straight to the fielder at cover-point. Came off the middle of the bat that one
- 1.52Newman Nyamhuri to Ibrahim Zadran, 2 runs, full on middle, Ibrahim Zadran gets forward to flick and mid-wicket is open. Well wide of deep square leg and an easy two
- 1.5wdNewman Nyamhuri to Ibrahim Zadran, wide, way outside off, miles outside off and it's left alone. Tadiwanashe Marumani does well to save more runs as he almost stops that near slip
- 1.42Newman Nyamhuri to Ibrahim Zadran, 2 runs, length delivery on middle and leg, Ibrahim Zadran jumps out his crease, looks to flick, the thick leading-edge lands short of mid-off where Raza can't stop it to his right. Gives away one more
- 1.3•Newman Nyamhuri to Ibrahim Zadran, no run, beaten again. This is good bowling by Newman Nyamhuri. Length delivery and angled across outside off, Ibrahim Zadran gets forward to drive and misses. Beaten on the inside edge
- 1.2•Newman Nyamhuri to Ibrahim Zadran, no run, Newman Nyamhuri appeals for a caught behind but there was no bat. Full and angled across Ibrahim Zadran who is late on the drive. He gets forward to play and misses. Past the outside edge
- 1.1•Newman Nyamhuri to Ibrahim Zadran, no run, short of length just outside off, Ibrahim Zadran gets forward and punches it so nicely, with a high-elbow, but straight to the fielder at short cover
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