The UAE Tri-Series Final 2026 was an exciting tactical duel at the historic Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 23, 2026. After a competitive series, Bangladesh’s live score faced off against Zimbabwe, the Africans were able to lift the trophy with a 7-wicket lead after finishing the game 93 balls ahead.
For all the cricket fans in and outside the UAE, here is the full scorecard, match highlights and expert analysis for the Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 2026 match.
Match Summary: Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan UAE Tri-Series Final 2026
The match for the championship will be played on Friday, Oct 23, 2026 in Sharjah, UAE at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Zimbawe captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and choose to bat first. Zimbabwe were 169 for 43.3 off 43.3 overs in the first innings. Afghanistan were able to knock off the target with ease as they built up 170/3 in just 34.3 overs to take a 7 wicket win. Ibrahim Zadran was the Player of the Match after hitting a 70 unbeaten off 96 balls while Rashid Khan took the Player of the Series accolade for his excellent spin bowling in the series.
First Innings: Spin Duo Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi Stifles Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe, who won the coin toss in the Sharjah cricket ground, decided to chase a target on track that is favourable to slow bowlers as the match continues. But Zimbabwe’s first order collapsed before Afghanistan’s disciplined bowlers’ middle-overs spin attack.
Pakistan and UAE conditions require very high adaptability and Zimbabwe had its issues early on. The top order pair of Tadiwanashe Marumani and Brendan Taylor did not last long in the powerplay with Marumani finishing with 12 off 11 balls and Taylor with 7 off 11 balls. Sikandar Raza played bravely, the only man to make a stand in a valiant 68 off 83 deliveries, including 3 fours and 3 sixes. No other batsman had the ability to withstand the pressure as Raza did during his 50 year stint as a fighter, and even Ryan Burl who scored 31 off 45 balls couldn’t pull it off. Brian Bennett, Wesley Madhevere, Tafadzwa Tsiga and Brad Evans all scored 4 while Wellington Masakadza went for 8, Newman Nyamhuri was bowled for a duck and Blessing Muzarabani was unbeaten at 17.
The veteran spin bowling star Rashid Khan had a brilliant start by breaking the middle order when he finished with figures of 3 for 41 in 10 overs, while veteran off-spinner Mohammad Nabi played a masterclass of tight lines taking 2 for 25 in 10 overs with maiden delivery. Bowling captain Fazalhaq Farooqi got 2 for 41 in 7 overs while Azmatullah Omarzai caught 1 for 6 in 5 off spirited delivery in 5 overs. Bilal Sami then went on to get 2 for 27 in 5.3 overs, clearing the lower order. Allah Ghazanfar also had an economical 0 for 24 in 6 overs, as the Zimbabwe side was bowled out for 169 in 43.3 overs.
Second Innings: Ibrahim Zadran Leads Afghanistan to a Smooth Victory
The Afghanistan cricket team was superb in picking up the pieces of a modest target of 170. The opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz had given the chase a heady beginning with a rapidfire 36 off 31 balls with four fours and two sixes, before he was caught off Newman Nyamhuri. Sediqullah Atal was responsible for 6 runs on 12 deliveries, before being hit and stitched up by Nyamhuri.
After the early wickets, Ibrahim Zadran made himself at home in the chase. Zadran did a superb anchoring job, was unbeaten on 70 off 96 balls and had four hits and a six. He had a 82-run stand with captain Rahmat Shah who played a solid 43 off 63 deliveries to bring Afghanistan within a shot of the trophy.
Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, who was accompanied by Zadran, walked out to close the game with 2 for 30 in 6 overs of their 60 off Newman Nyamhuri from Zimbabwe, but he was able to score 7 off 5 balls including a boundary off Wesley Madhevere in the 35th over in dramatic style to clinch the title. Blessing Muzarabani was the other Zimbabwe bowler who conceded 6 runs in 23 balls, Brad Evans in 42 balls for 42 runs, Wellington Masakadza in 29 balls for 29 runs, Ryan Burl in 6 balls for 19 runs and Sikandar Raza in 3 balls for 17 runs.
Key Takeaways & Post-Match Reaction
During the post-match presentation ceremony, Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza said he was “frustrated” by the poor performance of his team’s top order bowlers in the heat and humidity of Sharjah, where they had to settle for a short while. He said that cricket is a team game and it was all about the team and not about a single individual, and that there were new situations for them to deal with but they have to become mentally tough in the future.
Afghanistan skipper Rahmat Shah, meanwhile, commended the discipline shown by his team’s bowlers and the partnership they had at the end of the run chase. Their main priority was to rotate the strike, put their tactical plans into effect and keep their winning momentum intact as they enter their next series of games,” he said.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who won the UAE Tri-Series Final 2026?
A1. Afghanistan emerged victorious in the UAE Tri-Series Final 2026 7 wickets ahead of Zimbabwe in the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on 23rd October 2026.
Q2. What was the final score of the Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan match?
A2. After the Zimbabwean bowlers dismissed 117 fast bowlers from their ranks, they posted 169/10 in 43.3 overs and the Afghan bowlers were able to chase down the target to 170/3 in 34.3 overs.
Q3. Who was named Man of the Match in the UAE Tri-Series Final 2026?
A3. Ibrahim Zadran has been voted the Man of the Match for his match-winning unbeaten 70 runs from 96 deliveries.
Q4. Where can I watch the highlights of the UAE Tri-Series Final 2026?
A4. There will be highlights available on official sports streaming platforms in the Middle East and South Asia, such as Tamasha, FanCode and the official YouTube channel of the Dubai and Emirates Cricket Boards.
Q5. What is the next match for Afghanistan and Zimbabwe?
A5. The two sides will then return to UAE to play a 3-match T20I series from October 27, 2026 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Call to Action (CTA)
Stay ahead of every big sporting event in Dubai and the UAE by turning to Dubai Key Insights for the fastest live score updates, detailed match breakdowns, local sports news, and comprehensive event guides. Bookmark Dubai Key Insights today and subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive coverage on Middle East sports, entertainment, lifestyle, and business updates!