Kembali
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah will stage the first T20I match on 27th October at 8:00 PM IST, where Afghanistan will compete against Zimbabwe.
Get the best AFG vs ZIM Dream11 prediction, My11Circle Prediction, fantasy cricket tips, probable playing XI, and match insights for 1st T20I match of the Afghanistan and Zimbabwe Tour of UAE 2026. Expert analysis and more.
Captaincy Picks:
Azmatullah Omarzai – Afghanistan’s all-rounder has recorded 900 runs in 69 T20Is and claimed 57 wickets with his right-arm pace. His highest score is 64, while his best bowling figures of 4/9 underline his ability to make an impact in both departments. |
Ibrahim Zadran – A dependable presence at the top of Afghanistan’s batting order, Ibrahim has accumulated 1,938 runs in 68 T20Is, with 16 half-centuries and a highest score of 95. His career batting average of 32.30 highlights his consistency as an opener. |
Top Picks:
Sikandar Raza – Zimbabwe’s experienced all-rounder has built an impressive T20I record, scoring 3,244 runs in 144 matches and taking 114 wickets. His achievements include a century, 17 fifties and best bowling figures of 5/18, demonstrating his value with both bat and ball. |
Rashid Khan – With 197 wickets in 118 T20Is, Rashid remains one of Afghanistan’s most prolific international wicket-takers. His exceptional bowling average of 14.03 and economy rate of 6.14 complement his batting contribution of 657 runs, with a best score of 48 not out. |
Budget Picks:
Fazalhaq Farooqi – Farooqi’s left-arm pace has brought Afghanistan 66 wickets in 54 T20Is, including a superb 5/9 as his best bowling performance. He has also scored 17 runs in his international T20 career, although his primary contribution comes through his bowling. |
Ben Curran – Zimbabwe’s left-handed batter has scored 102 runs across eight T20Is, with a highest score of 38. He also bowls occasional off-breaks, giving him an additional option beyond his main role as a batter. |
Captain |
Azmatullah Omarzai & Ibrahim Zadran |
Vice-Captain |
Sikandar Raza & Rashid Khan |
Players |
Dream11 Credits |
Dream11 Points (Last match) |
Akram |
NA |
NA |
Wesley Madhevere |
NA |
NA |
SL Captaincy Choice |
Azmatullah Omarzai |
GL Captaincy Choice |
Ibrahim Zadran |
Punt Picks |
Fazalhaq Farooqi and Ben Curran |
Dream11 Combination |
1-3-4-3 |
Afghanistan will take on Zimbabwe in the opening T20I on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah, UAE. The match will begin at 8:00 PM IST as both teams shift their focus to the shortest format. Afghanistan will look to carry their recent success in the UAE into this series, while Zimbabwe will seek a fresh start after losing the ODI tri-series final to the same opponents. As a result, the opening encounter offers Zimbabwe an immediate opportunity to respond and Afghanistan a chance to maintain their winning momentum.
Afghanistan boast several match-winners, including Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal and Azmatullah Omarzai. Gurbaz’s attacking approach can put the opposition under pressure during the powerplay, whereas captain Ibrahim provides stability at the top of the order. Furthermore, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb Ur Rahman give Afghanistan a range of spin options, while Fazalhaq Farooqi adds left-arm pace to the attack. With this varied bowling combination, Afghanistan will aim to restrict Zimbabwe’s scoring opportunities, particularly through the middle overs, and build pressure with regular wickets.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will depend on captain Sikandar Raza’s all-round contributions, supported by Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Wessly Madhevere and Ryan Burl in the batting department. Their pace attack features Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans and Newman Nyamhuri, while Kundai Matigimu provides another bowling option. Although Afghanistan have enjoyed considerable success in this T20I matchup, Zimbabwe possess enough experience and firepower to challenge them. To do so, the visitors must establish a solid foundation with the bat and strike early with the ball. Ultimately, disciplined execution in both departments could prove decisive in this series opener.
Teams |
Matches Won |
Afghanistan |
16 |
Zimbabwe |
2 |
Temperature |
29°C |
Weather Forecast |
Clear Sky |
Pitch Behaviour |
Batting-friendly |
Best Suited To |
Pace |
Average 1st innings score |
182 |
Records |
Poor |
Winning % |
30% |
Afghanistan Playing 11:
1) Rahmanullah Gurbaz
2) Ibrahim Zadran ©
3) Sediqullah Atal
4) Ahmad Ahmadzai
5) Azmatullah Omarzai
6) Noor ul Rahman
7) Shahidullah
8) Rashid Khan
9) Mujeeb Ur Rahman
10) Abdollah Ahmadzai
11) Fazalhaq Farooqi
Zimbabwe Playing 11:
1) Brian Bennett
2) Ben Curran
3) Innocent Kaia
4) Wessly Madhevere
5) Sikandar Raza ©
6) Ryan Burl
7) Tadiwanashe Marumani
8) Brad Evans
9) Newman Nyamhuri
10) Kundai Matigimu
11) Blessing Muzarabani
Considering the squad strength, Afghanistan is expected to win this match.