Afghanistan completed a commanding 3-0 T20I series sweep over Zimbabwe at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE, with matches played on October 27, October 29 and November 1, 2026. The result extended Afghanistan’s winning run against Zimbabwe to seven consecutive T20I victories.
Across the three matches, several Afghan players produced standout contributions with both bat and ball. Here are the three performers who shaped the series most decisively.
3. Noor Ahmad
Noor Ahmad had a contrasting series. In the 1st T20I on October 27, he conceded 28 runs in three overs and was subsequently left out of the playing XI for the 2nd T20I. However, the Afghans recalled him for the 3rd T20I on November 1, and he responded with a remarkable turnaround. Bowling against Zimbabwe, who were bowled out for just 79, Noor returned figures of 5/13 – his best in T20I cricket and his maiden five-wicket haul at this level. The 21-year-old spinner was named the Player of the Match for that decisive performance, which helped Afghanistan seal the series 3-0 with 71 balls to spare.
2. Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai
Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai delivered two crucial innings across the first two T20Is, each time rescuing Afghanistan from a precarious position. In the 1st T20I, the 23-year-old walked in with the Afghans struggling at 66/5 in the 12th over and struck 52 off just 22 balls to help lift the total to 177. However, the 2nd T20I on October 29 was even more dramatic. Afghanistan were reduced to 38/5 in the 9th over when Ahmadzai joined Azmatullah Omarzai in the middle. The two batters then forged a record-breaking stand of 142 runs off 59 balls, turning the match on its head. Ahmadzai contributed 52 off 27 balls in that partnership as Afghanistan posted 221/7 and eventually won by 19 runs.
1. Azmatullah Omarzai
Azmatullah Omarzai was the standout batter of the series. In the 2nd T20I at Sharjah on October 29, he struck 116 off 50 balls, hitting 12 sixes and five fours at a strike rate of 232. Meanwhile, his overall series strike rate of 201.43 underlined his dominance throughout. In the second T20I, he came together with Ahmadzai when Afghanistan were in deep trouble at 38/5, and their 142-run stand off 59 balls transformed a seemingly lost cause into a match-winning total of 221/7. Omarzai’s knock of 116 was the centrepiece of that recovery, and his average of 141 across the series reflected his consistency as the primary batting force for Afghanistan. Meanwhile, with the ball, he accounted for four scalps in three games, bowling just eight overs. His economy rate was a decent 8.62.