AFG vs ZIM Playing 11 Today, Live Streaming, Pitch & Weather: Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 2026, 3rd T20I

AFG vs ZIM Playing 11 Today, Live Streaming, Pitch & Weather: Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 2026, 3rd T20I

Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 3rd T20I: Match Preview, Prediction, Pitch Report and Playing XIs

Afghanistan and Zimbabwe meet in the third and final T20I at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday, November 1. With Afghanistan already holding an unassailable 2-0 series lead, the hosts will be aiming to finish with a clean sweep. Zimbabwe, led by Sikandar Raza, must win to avoid a whitewash and end the tour on a positive note.

The second match offered a compelling contest. Afghanistan lost four wickets for just five runs, but Azmatullah Omarzai turned the innings around with a remarkable 116 from 50 deliveries. His power-hitting helped Afghanistan post 221, a total that proved just beyond Zimbabwe’s reach. Raza struck an unbeaten century in reply, yet limited support from the rest of the batting order left the visitors 19 runs short.

AFG vs ZIM 3rd T20I Match Details

Match: Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, third T20I
Date: Sunday, November 1
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Start time: 8:00 PM IST (6:30 PM local time)
Toss: 7:30 PM IST

Series Form and Match Preview

Afghanistan have won the series through their ability to recover from difficult positions. Their top order has been unreliable, falling to 66/5 in the opening match and losing four early wickets in the second. However, the middle and lower order have repeatedly supplied the runs needed to keep the team competitive.

Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai has been a standout contributor from number seven, recording consecutive half-centuries at a strike rate of 212.24. Omarzai’s explosive hundred was the defining performance of the second T20I, while Rashid Khan showed his own finishing ability with a rapid 30 from 10 balls in the first game. Afghanistan will nevertheless want a more stable start from openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and captain Ibrahim Zadran.

Zimbabwe have also had trouble building substantial opening partnerships. Innocent Kaia and Ryan Burl were the only batters to pass 20 in the first match, but the visitors made progress in the second, lifting their powerplay score from 38 to 59. Raza and Tafadzwa Tsiga then put together a 120-run sixth-wicket stand, giving Zimbabwe a genuine chance of chasing the target.

That partnership exposed both Zimbabwe’s potential and their challenge: Raza has carried much of the responsibility, and the team needs more consistent contributions from the rest of the lineup. Brad Evans has been an important source of early wickets, while Kundai Matigimu’s two top-order dismissals in the previous match could earn him another key role.

AFG vs ZIM Prediction

Afghanistan enter the final match as favourites after winning the first two games and demonstrating greater depth in the lower order. Their recent success batting first, combined with Omarzai’s match-winning form and the presence of Rashid Khan, gives them a strong platform. Zimbabwe’s best route to an upset is likely to involve early wickets and another major innings from Raza, supported by meaningful contributions from the top and middle order.

Match prediction: Afghanistan have the edge, particularly if they bat first and post a competitive total. Zimbabwe can still make the contest close if their bowlers exploit Afghanistan’s vulnerable top order and their batters avoid leaving too much work for Raza.

Sharjah Cricket Stadium Pitch Report

The Sharjah surface has offered a reasonable balance between bat and ball during this series. Batters have been able to score freely when set, but spinners may become more influential as the match progresses. The first two games have also shown that early wickets can quickly change the shape of an innings.

The average first-innings score across the series is around 199, making a total in the 190–210 range a potentially competitive target. Conditions and the way the pitch wears will matter, so the team batting first should aim to build partnerships rather than rely entirely on late hitting.

Historical venue figures suggest that batting first can be advantageous. Across 77 T20Is at Sharjah, teams batting first have won 46 times. Afghanistan also won both matches in this series after setting a target, while Zimbabwe chose to field on each occasion. The toss-winning captain may therefore consider batting first, although dew and the condition of the surface should be assessed before deciding.

Sharjah T20I Records

Matches played: 54
Matches won batting first: 33
Matches won bowling first: 21
Average first-innings score: 158
Average second-innings score: 131
Highest total: 215/6 in 20 overs, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe
Lowest total: 38 all out in 10.4 overs, Hong Kong vs Pakistan
Highest successful chase: 206/8 in 19.5 overs, UAE vs Bangladesh
Lowest total defended: 132/7 in 20 overs, Afghanistan vs Scotland
Highest individual score: 118 not out from 67 balls, Mohammad Shahzad
Best bowling figures: 5/13, Samiullah Shinwari

Weather Forecast for Sharjah

Partly cloudy conditions are expected around the scheduled start, with no rain forecast. The temperature is predicted to be close to 20°C at the beginning of play and may dip to approximately 19°C during the evening. Humidity could increase from about 48% to 52%. The outlook points to a full match, though teams will still need to monitor conditions as the evening progresses.

Team News and Predicted Playing XIs

Afghanistan will be looking for a stronger opening partnership. Gurbaz and Zadran are central to the team’s plans, and a solid start would reduce pressure on a middle order that has already had to rescue the innings more than once. Zimbabwe also need their openers, Brian Bennett and Kaia, to provide a better foundation. Wicketkeeper Tadiwanashe Marumani has yet to make a significant contribution in the series, increasing the importance of the middle order.

Afghanistan Predicted Playing XI

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran (c), Sediqullah Atal, Mohammad Akram, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Rashid Khan, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Abdullah Ahmadzai.

Zimbabwe Predicted Playing XI

Brian Bennett, Innocent Kaia, Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (c), Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Tafadzwa Tsiga, Brad Evans, Kundai Matigimu, Ernest Masuku, Vincent Masekesa.

Key Player Battles to Watch

Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs Brad Evans: Gurbaz can put pressure on the bowlers during the powerplay, but Evans has taken important top-order wickets in both matches. Their early contest could shape Afghanistan’s innings.

Sikandar Raza vs Rashid Khan: Raza’s unbeaten century makes him Zimbabwe’s most important batting threat. Rashid’s changes of pace and spin through the middle overs could test the captain’s ability to keep scoring without taking excessive risks.

Ibrahim Zadran vs Kundai Matigimu: Zadran will be eager to find form after a quiet series, while Matigimu will look to build on his recent success against Afghanistan’s top order. An early breakthrough could put the hosts under pressure once again.

Players to Watch

Afghanistan: Azmatullah Omarzai, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai and Rashid Khan offer a combination of explosive batting and all-round impact. Omarzai’s recent century makes him a particularly compelling player to follow.

Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza remains the key figure, while Brad Evans could influence the match with the new ball. Tafadzwa Tsiga’s contribution in the previous game also gives Zimbabwe reason to expect more from their lower-middle order.

Live Streaming and Broadcast Information

Fans in India can watch the Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe third T20I through live streaming on the FanCode app and website. The match is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM IST, with the toss taking place at 7:30 PM IST.

Afghanistan have the series secured, but the final match still carries plenty of interest: the hosts can complete a clean sweep, while Zimbabwe have an opportunity to respond after two close stretches of play and a standout century from their captain. The result may come down to whether Afghanistan’s top order can finally provide a platform—or whether Zimbabwe can strike early and turn Raza’s form into a winning performance.

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