Afghanistan Crowned UAE Tri-Series Champions! Beat Zimbabwe by 7 Wickets 🏆
Afghanistan have been crowned champions of the UAE ODI Tri-Series 2026 after defeating Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the final at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
A commanding bowling performance restricted Zimbabwe to 169 all out before Afghanistan completed the chase to lift the trophy and cap off an impressive tournament campaign.
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Competition: UAE ODI Tri-Series 2026 Final
Zimbabwe Bowled Out for 169
Zimbabwe struggled to build momentum against Afghanistan's disciplined attack. The Chevrons were dismissed for 169 in 43.3 overs, leaving Afghanistan with a manageable target in the final.
Captain Sikandar Raza was Zimbabwe's leading batter, scoring 68 off 83 balls. He struck three fours and three sixes, attempting to hold the innings together as wickets fell around him.
| Zimbabwe Innings | Score |
|---|---|
| Total | 169 all out |
| Overs | 43.3 |
| Sikandar Raza | 68 (83) |
Rashid Khan Leads Afghanistan's Bowling Attack
Afghanistan's bowlers made early inroads and prevented Zimbabwe from producing the kind of partnerships required for a competitive total.
Rashid Khan delivered a crucial spell, finishing with 3/41. Mohammad Nabi and Bilal Sami picked up two wickets each, while Fazalhaq Farooqi also claimed two.
| Afghanistan Bowling | O | M | R | W | ECON | 0s | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 7 | 0 | 41 | 2 | 5.85 | 25 | 1 | 0 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 5 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1.20 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Bilal Sami | 5.3 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 4.90 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| AM Ghazanfar | 6 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 4.00 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Rashid Khan | 10 | 0 | 41 | 3 | 4.10 | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 10 | 1 | 25 | 2 | 2.50 | 41 | 1 | 0 |
Afghanistan's sharp catching and consistent pressure helped dismantle Zimbabwe's batting order. Raza's resistance was one of the few substantial contributions in an innings that never fully recovered from its early setbacks.
Afghanistan Complete the Job
Chasing 170, Afghanistan approached the target with confidence. Their batting lineup had already demonstrated its quality throughout the tournament, and the final provided another opportunity to show its depth.
| Afghanistan Batting | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz † | c Madhevere b Nyamhuri | 36 | 31 | 4 | 5 | 116.12 |
| Ibrahim Zadran | not out | 70 | 96 | 1 | 4 | 172.91 |
| Sediqullah Atal | c †Taylor b Nyamhuri | 6 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Rahmat Shah (c) | c Burl b Madhevere | 43 | 36 | 3 | 1 | 119.44 |
| Hashmatullah Shahidi | not out | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 140.00 |
Afghanistan ultimately secured a seven-wicket victory, turning their strong tournament form into silverware.
A Dominant Tournament Campaign
Afghanistan entered the final after a convincing run through the competition. They defeated Zimbabwe by 158 runs in the league stage and then beat Bangladesh by seven wickets to secure their place in the title clash.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, reached the final after opening their campaign with a 99-run victory over Bangladesh. Despite their earlier defeat to Afghanistan, they earned another opportunity to challenge for the trophy.
The final ultimately went Afghanistan's way, reinforcing their position as the standout side of the tri-series.
Final Verdict
Zimbabwe's 169 was not enough to challenge an Afghanistan side full of confidence. Rashid Khan and the bowling unit set the tone, and Afghanistan's batters completed the assignment to secure the title.
With a seven-wicket final win, Afghanistan finished the UAE ODI Tri-Series 2026 on top.