![Afghanistan predicted XI vs Zimbabwe [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1792312722988_AfghanistanODI(1).jpg?type=hq)
Afghanistan predicted XI vs Zimbabwe [Source: AFP]
Afghanistan will play Zimbabwe in the second ODI of their tri-series in UAE, involving Bangladesh on October 19 in Abu Dhabi at 5 PM (IST). They recently played a draw in the only Test against Bangladesh and the spirits within the dressing room are high.
Zimbabwe are also coming off a win over Bangladesh in the series opener, so it will be a good match to watchout for and as the Afghans look to open their series with a win, here's a look at their predicted playing XI vs Zimbabwe.
Top Order- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal
The experienced Rahmanullah Gurbaz will keep the wickets against Zimbabwe, having scored 277 ODI runs in 2026 at a healthy strike rate of 124.21. He also scored a magnificent 102(51) against India in June. He will be paired with Ibrahim Zadran, who crossed 2000 ODI runs earlier this year. Zadran has a century and fifty in 7 innings in 2026.
Afghanistan's leading run-scorer in ODIs in 2026, Sediqullah Atal will bat at 3, having scored 355 runs in 6 ODIs in 2026. He averages 59.16 at a strike rate of 98.88 this year with the best score of 143. He also recently saved a Test vs Bangladesh with a marathon 111 in Abu Dhabi.
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Middle Order and Allrounders- Rahmat Shah (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan
Afghanistan captain and their highest run-scorer in ODIs, Rahmat Shah will slot in at 4, with 4300 runs in 132 matches. He has 6 ODI centuries and 33 fifties for the Asian side and will play as anchor in this lineup.
World number 1 ODI allrounder Azmatullah Omarzai will be the floater, with experience of playing all around the world. As batter, Omarzai can finish with quick-fire knocks, which shows in his 98.50 SR and 40.45 average. He also has 52 ODI wickets and can bowl upfront in the powerplay with good control.
Hashmatullah Shahidi has scored a century earlier this year as well and averages 51.75 at a strike rate of 93.24 in 2026. He will bat at 5 after very recently reaching the 100 ODI milestone. Off-spinner and former captain Mohammad Nabi has 3792 runs at a good strike rate of 88.02 and 177 scalps. He will be one of the designated finishers against Zimbabwe.
Afghanistan's all-time leading wicket-taker Rashid Khan with 226 wickets in just 115 innings, alongside 1469 runs at a strike rate of 103.74. So, he will add depth to the lower middle order and lead the bowling attack.
Bowlers- Allah Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ziaur Rahman
Allah Ghazanfar will partner Rashid Khan as the second spinner, with 30 wickets in 21 ODIs so far. He has been very impressive in the limited opportunities he has gotten in his short, injury-riddled career and bowls at a good economy rate of 4.53, while also being a lethal wicket-taker.
The 26-year-old left-arm quick, Fazalhaq Farooqi will be one of the two frontline pacers. He has 54 ODI wickets in 44 matches at an economy rate of 5.82. While his T20I bowling has received some flack recently, he remains important to the Afghanistan setup.
Lastly, Ziaur Rahman will be the second pacer, who is currently looking to seal his place in the team, having impressed in the Tests. Rahman has 37 List A wickets in 34 matches, conceding 5.56 runs per over. The 28-year-old fared well in India and could be one of the options leading up to the World Cup.
Afghanistan playing XI vs Zimbabwe- 2nd ODI, Tri Series, 2026
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Allah Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ziaur Rahman.
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