The UAE ODI Tri-Series 2026 reaches its climax on Friday, October 23, 2026, as Afghanistan take on Zimbabwe in the final at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. After an entertaining week of group-stage cricket, the two best teams of the tournament will battle for the trophy in what promises to be a fitting finale to a tri-nation series also featuring Bangladesh.
Afghanistan have been the standout side of the tournament, winning both of their group games in convincing fashion. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, recovered from a heavy defeat to edge Bangladesh on net run-rate and seal their place in the decider. With silverware on the line, expect a far tighter contest than their previous meeting. Read our 2nd ODI recap for a reminder of how dominant Afghanistan were in the group stage.
Match Overview
Afghanistan have looked a class apart in this tri-series. Captained by Rahmat Shah, they opened their campaign with a crushing 158-run win over Zimbabwe — Sediqullah Atal’s magnificent 102 and Rashid Khan’s 4 for 17 doing the damage — before sealing top spot with a composed chase against Bangladesh, where Rahmat’s unbeaten 67 guided them home. Their spin attack, led by Rashid Khan and AM Ghazanfar, has been the most potent weapon of the tournament.
Zimbabwe’s road to the final has been rockier. Sikandar Raza’s men began with a morale-boosting 99-run win over Bangladesh, defending 271 with real discipline, but were then blown away by Afghanistan’s spinners. They held their nerve to qualify ahead of Bangladesh on net run-rate after Afghanistan’s victory in the final group game — our 3rd ODI recap has all the details. The big question is whether Zimbabwe’s batting, heavily reliant on Raza, Brendan Taylor and Brian Bennett, can stand up to Afghanistan’s spin threat a second time.
Date, Time & Venue
- Match: Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, Final — UAE ODI Tri-Series 2026
- Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
- Toss: 3:00 PM GST (4:30 PM IST)
- First ball: 3:30 PM GST / 5:00 PM IST
- Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Probable Playing XIs & Squads
Afghanistan
Probable XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah (c), Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Yamin Ahmadzai.
Afghanistan squad: Rahmat Shah (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (vc & wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyalai Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Yamin Ahmadzai.
Zimbabwe
Probable XI: Ben Curran, Brian Bennett, Brendan Taylor, Sikandar Raza (c), Craig Ervine, Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wessly Madhevere, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani.
Zimbabwe squad: Sikandar Raza (c), Ben Curran, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, Brendan Taylor, Brian Bennett, Craig Ervine, Ernest Masuku, Newman Nyamhuri, Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Vincent Masekesa, Wellington Masakadza, Wessly Madhevere.
Head-to-Head Record
Afghanistan and Zimbabwe have met twice in this tri-series. The headline clash saw Afghanistan demolish Zimbabwe by 158 runs in the group stage, piling up 294 before Rashid Khan’s 4 for 17 bowled Zimbabwe out for just 136.
That result gives Afghanistan a clear psychological edge, but finals are a different proposition entirely. Zimbabwe’s senior players — Raza, Taylor and Ervine — have plenty of big-match experience and will be desperate to prove the group-stage mauling was an aberration.
Pitch & Weather Report
The Sharjah Cricket Stadium is traditionally one of the most batting-friendly venues in the UAE, with short boundaries and a lightning-fast outfield rewarding aggressive strokeplay. Scores have been healthy throughout this tri-series, and another high-scoring contest looks on the cards.
Spinners can find some grip as the surface wears, but the biggest factor in Sharjah is evening dew — the ball skids on under lights, which often pushes captains to chase. Expect the toss to be crucial, with the winner likely to bowl first.
It will be a warm, dry evening in Sharjah with temperatures in the low 30s Celsius and no rain expected — ideal conditions for a final.
Where to Watch / Live Streaming
Here is where you can watch the Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe tri-series final live around the world:
- India: FanCode (live streaming)
- Afghanistan: Ariana TV and the Etisalat app
- Bangladesh: T Sports and Tapmad
- Pakistan: ASports and Tamasha
- Zimbabwe and South Africa: SuperSport
- USA: Willow TV
- Rest of the world: ICC.tv
FAQs
When is the Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe tri-series final 2026?
The final will be played on Friday, October 23, 2026. The toss is scheduled for 3:00 PM GST, with the first ball at 3:30 PM GST, which is 5:00 PM IST.
Where is the AFG vs ZIM final being played?
The match will be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
How did Afghanistan and Zimbabwe reach the final?
Afghanistan won both of their group games — thrashing Zimbabwe by 158 runs and beating Bangladesh — to finish top of the table. Zimbabwe’s 99-run victory over Bangladesh proved enough to take them through in second place on net run-rate.
Where can I watch the Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe final live in India?
Fans in India can catch the final live via streaming on FanCode.
Who are the key players to watch in the final?
For Afghanistan, keep an eye on Rashid Khan, Sediqullah Atal and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Zimbabwe will look to Sikandar Raza, Blessing Muzarabani and Brendan Taylor to deliver on the big stage.
Final Summary
Afghanistan start as clear favourites after dominating the group stage, but Zimbabwe have shown enough fight — particularly in their 99-run win over Bangladesh — to suggest they will not go down quietly. The battle between Afghanistan’s world-class spin attack and Zimbabwe’s experienced batting core should decide where the trophy goes.
Expect a cracking contest under the Sharjah lights to close out an entertaining tri-series. For TV channels and streaming options in every region, check this complete broadcast guide.
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