W
0
0
1
4
1
= 6
Match Details
AFG vs ZIM, 1st T20I, AFG vs ZIM summary
ZIM
140-10(19.1)
Afghanistan won by 37 runs 🏆
AFG
(19.5)177-10
+
P'ship : 0(0)
1:30
Ahmadzai, Rashid and Farooqi Seal Convincing Afghanistan Victory | 1st T20I Review…
29:11Rashid, Ahmadzai power Afghanistan to series-opening win | 1st T20I Highlights…
Rashid Khan be like: Humko sab…
Afghanistan cruise past…
Wickets continue to tumble in…
Shahidullah kamal strikes,…
Trapped in front! 🎯 Rashid…
Fazal Haq Farooqi draws…
Ahmadzai’s maiden fifty…
That feeling of your maiden T20I…
Zimbabwe on top as Afghanistan…
Zimbabwe won the toss and decided…
Commentary
All
Highlights
Overs
W
6s
4s
Inn 1
Inn 2
Milestone
That's it from our coverage of the 1st T20 international between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe! Ninaad Dixit here signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Karthik Raj; scorer/analyst Ashok Dayma and statistician Aman. Stay tuned for more cricketing action from around the world.
The 2nd T20I of the series will be played at the same venue on October 29, 8 PM IST, 6:30 PM Local Time!
A brilliant display from the Afghanistan side. A late comeback from the middle and lower middle order to get to a match winning score then the pacers and spinners joining forces to restrict Zimbabwe and eventually skittle them in a 20-wicket T20I! The hosts Afghanistan going 1-0 up in the series.
Fastest 50s for Afghanistan in T20Is [by balls]:
20 – Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai vs Zimbabwe, Sharjah, 2026, Tonight*
20 – Azmatullah Omarzai vs Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, 2025
20 – Mohammad Nabi vs Sri Lanka, Abu Dhabi, 2025
21 – Mohammad Nabi vs Ireland, Greater Noida, 2017
21 – Karim Janat vs UAE, Abu Dhabi, 2023
20 – Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai vs Zimbabwe, Sharjah, 2026, Tonight*
20 – Azmatullah Omarzai vs Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, 2025
20 – Mohammad Nabi vs Sri Lanka, Abu Dhabi, 2025
21 – Mohammad Nabi vs Ireland, Greater Noida, 2017
21 – Karim Janat vs UAE, Abu Dhabi, 2023
Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan Captain): [on the conditions when he got to bat] "Yeah, definitely the conditions were a bit sticky, so we couldn't have, you know, a better start in the powerplay. Then we utilised in the middle overs, but the way Ijaz batted, you know, I'm giving credit to him. I've been watching him in the domestic cricket. He worked really hard on himself, and the way Rashid finished, it was brilliant. I can give credit to them. It was a brilliant show by them. And yeah, we could have put a good total on the board, and we just, you know, gave them some tough time.
[on the middle order making a comeback] Yeah, it's really important when you play international cricket, especially against the top teams. So we have been working on those areas. We have been thinking about how to improve our skills, develop, and just think about small things so as not to put pressure on ourselves. The work has been going on there. Hopefully we're gonna sort out, you know, very soon and very quickly. Yeah, we already thought about it and we try to play better cricket.
[on the motivating factor for the team doing good] Yeah, it's really important. We always think every single game to think about Afghanistan, think about, you know, the team, how to take it forward and how to, you know, develop ourselves. The motivation is there, you know, with the guys, and we have been working on that. And you saw today again the quality is there, you know, the beauty of the players is there. This is what we have been doing, and yeah, one day, you know, we will be at the top."
[on the middle order making a comeback] Yeah, it's really important when you play international cricket, especially against the top teams. So we have been working on those areas. We have been thinking about how to improve our skills, develop, and just think about small things so as not to put pressure on ourselves. The work has been going on there. Hopefully we're gonna sort out, you know, very soon and very quickly. Yeah, we already thought about it and we try to play better cricket.
[on the motivating factor for the team doing good] Yeah, it's really important. We always think every single game to think about Afghanistan, think about, you know, the team, how to take it forward and how to, you know, develop ourselves. The motivation is there, you know, with the guys, and we have been working on that. And you saw today again the quality is there, you know, the beauty of the players is there. This is what we have been doing, and yeah, one day, you know, we will be at the top."
Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe Captain): "[Was it the fielding or bowling where things went wrong?] No, I thought the fielding was okay. I think it was the bowling department because I feel like once they start playing a few shots, and that has been the case for Zimbabwe for some time now, I find that our mental toughness sometimes is not there. Sometimes people start to swing and the plans go out the window. Sticking to the plan goes out the window, and then it's everywhere. Credit to the Afghan boys as well. I know they hit a few shots, they got lucky here and there as well. But for me, the biggest thing I was looking at is how strong we are mentally to still trust the plan. But it has been the case for some time. I think the last five overs was pretty painful to watch.
[On the discussion at the halfway stage, when Afghanistan were around 60 for five, and Zimbabwe’s plans for the final 10 overs] Yeah, we actually had a chat and we said the things that have been working has been if you hit the length hard, there's enough stickiness and there's enough from the length. Today is a great wicket where you don't have to search for too much and you do not have to do too much. Unfortunately, they had one or two good overs and after that, when the seamers came back on, it was everywhere. There was width, there were fuller deliveries. I mean, you can protect only one side of the boundary, but once you start getting hit all over the park, it becomes really difficult to captain and to captain the side. And I think it has been the case. We are always, you know, most of the time we are in a good position, but come to the death where we need some mental toughness. I feel like we lack there.
[Coming into this game after the defeat in the Tri-Series final and chat in the dressing room] It was pretty clear. Listen, they've had the better of us in the two ODIs we have played. Listen, the conditions play a huge part as well, and I know we all struggle. So hopefully, after 10 days being in the UAE now, we are better accustomed to these conditions. And we have had enough information on them. Hopefully, we have learned from what we have seen in the ODI, and we can execute our plans slightly better. I thought we did that for the first part of the game, for the majority of the game. But I think after 12 or 13 overs, they ran away with it, and we didn't have an answer back. And hence, we were in a position where we were. And I think they had momentum on their side. When we came out to bat, to have 40, 50-odd runs after 44 balls between the top three when you're chasing 180, you're always behind the game, and it's always trying to catch up. And that's something that has been happening for some time.
[On the pitch] No, the surface had something for everyone. If you bat well, you can score runs. The seamers: if you hit the right areas, you get something. Spinners, if you bowl well as well, hit the five- and six-metre length as well, there was enough tackiness. There was a little bit of turn, but at least there was a bit of stoppage. I thought the surface was good. But from where Afghanistan was, for us to let them off the hook and get them to 170-plus was criminal."
[On the discussion at the halfway stage, when Afghanistan were around 60 for five, and Zimbabwe’s plans for the final 10 overs] Yeah, we actually had a chat and we said the things that have been working has been if you hit the length hard, there's enough stickiness and there's enough from the length. Today is a great wicket where you don't have to search for too much and you do not have to do too much. Unfortunately, they had one or two good overs and after that, when the seamers came back on, it was everywhere. There was width, there were fuller deliveries. I mean, you can protect only one side of the boundary, but once you start getting hit all over the park, it becomes really difficult to captain and to captain the side. And I think it has been the case. We are always, you know, most of the time we are in a good position, but come to the death where we need some mental toughness. I feel like we lack there.
[Coming into this game after the defeat in the Tri-Series final and chat in the dressing room] It was pretty clear. Listen, they've had the better of us in the two ODIs we have played. Listen, the conditions play a huge part as well, and I know we all struggle. So hopefully, after 10 days being in the UAE now, we are better accustomed to these conditions. And we have had enough information on them. Hopefully, we have learned from what we have seen in the ODI, and we can execute our plans slightly better. I thought we did that for the first part of the game, for the majority of the game. But I think after 12 or 13 overs, they ran away with it, and we didn't have an answer back. And hence, we were in a position where we were. And I think they had momentum on their side. When we came out to bat, to have 40, 50-odd runs after 44 balls between the top three when you're chasing 180, you're always behind the game, and it's always trying to catch up. And that's something that has been happening for some time.
[On the pitch] No, the surface had something for everyone. If you bat well, you can score runs. The seamers: if you hit the right areas, you get something. Spinners, if you bowl well as well, hit the five- and six-metre length as well, there was enough tackiness. There was a little bit of turn, but at least there was a bit of stoppage. I thought the surface was good. But from where Afghanistan was, for us to let them off the hook and get them to 170-plus was criminal."
Rashid Khan (Player of the Match): [on the performance] "First of all, thanks to mighty Allah for the performance again. I feel like, you know, at that stage we were right behind in the game. And I think when Ijaz went there and he started those runs and the scoreboard started running, I felt like when I went there, we had the same discussion. We have to maximise it as much as possible, keep backing yourself, and try to hit as straight as possible. And yeah, simple plan, watch the ball and hit.
[on the chat in the change room before him coming out to bat] Well, not much. I feel like, you know, in T20 we think like it's 20 overs; that's 120 balls. I feel like you still have lots of time in the middle to go there, read the conditions, read the bowlers, and target the bowlers specifically. So I feel that is the area we need to improve if we want to be a better side and perform at a very high level. I think those are the areas we need to improve and to adjust ourselves to the conditions as soon as possible and to know what the right score is on a specific pitch. So we had the same discussion, you know, I think spending a couple of overs there and then understanding your game, go accordingly is a good option. But for me it was very much clear. Last five overs, go there as hard as possible.
[on him feeling pressure] Well, nothing much, you know, pressure. I feel like that's a kind of preparation I do as well while practising; I make myself mentally ready for that. And I know the condition will be right there, and there will be a time where team will need me in all three departments: batting, bowling and fielding. And I have to put myself under pressure in the practice, and as soon as I do well in the practice, it all goes back to the game. So nothing much, just making sure I do the natural things and keep backing myself."
[on the chat in the change room before him coming out to bat] Well, not much. I feel like, you know, in T20 we think like it's 20 overs; that's 120 balls. I feel like you still have lots of time in the middle to go there, read the conditions, read the bowlers, and target the bowlers specifically. So I feel that is the area we need to improve if we want to be a better side and perform at a very high level. I think those are the areas we need to improve and to adjust ourselves to the conditions as soon as possible and to know what the right score is on a specific pitch. So we had the same discussion, you know, I think spending a couple of overs there and then understanding your game, go accordingly is a good option. But for me it was very much clear. Last five overs, go there as hard as possible.
[on him feeling pressure] Well, nothing much, you know, pressure. I feel like that's a kind of preparation I do as well while practising; I make myself mentally ready for that. And I know the condition will be right there, and there will be a time where team will need me in all three departments: batting, bowling and fielding. And I have to put myself under pressure in the practice, and as soon as I do well in the practice, it all goes back to the game. So nothing much, just making sure I do the natural things and keep backing myself."
Player of the Match: Rashid Khan
Game Changer of the Match: Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai [55 in 22 balls]
Stylish Player of the Match: Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai [55 in 22 balls]
Commentary