The Zimbabwe cricket team toured the United Arab Emirates in March 2021 to play two Test and three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches against Afghanistan.[1][2] It was the first time the two teams had played a Test match against each other.[3] Ahmed Shah Pakteen was named as the on-field umpire for both Tests, becoming the first Afghan umpire to officiate in Test cricket.[4]
| Zimbabwe against Afghanistan in the UAE in 2020–21 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
.svg){kind=small} |
 | ||
| Afghanistan | Zimbabwe | ||
| Dates | 2 – 20 March 2021 | ||
| Captains | Asghar Afghan | Sean Williams | |
| Test series | |||
| Result | 2-match series drawn 1–1 | ||
| Most runs | Hashmatullah Shahidi (215) | Sean Williams (264) | |
| Most wickets | Rashid Khan (11) | Blessing Muzarabani (8) | |
| Player of the series | Sean Williams (Zim) | ||
| Twenty20 International series | |||
| Results | Afghanistan won the 3-match series 3–0 | ||
| Most runs | Rahmanullah Gurbaz (114) | Ryan Burl (81) | |
| Most wickets | Rashid Khan (6) | Blessing Muzarabani (6) | |
| Player of the series | Karim Janat (Afg) | ||
Originally, the series was scheduled to be played in Oman.[5] In January 2021, the International Cricket Council (ICC) gave accreditation for the Ministry Turf 1 at the Al Amerat Cricket Stadium in Muscat to host Test cricket.[6][7] However, in February 2021, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed that the series would take place in the UAE.[8] The series was initially in doubt due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[9] however in late January 2021, Zimbabwe's Sports and Recreation Commission gave its approval for the tour to go ahead.[10] On 12 February 2021, the ACB announced the tour schedule.[11]
Zimbabwe won the first Test inside two days by ten wickets, with captain Sean Williams scoring a century in their first innings.[12] Zimbabwe last won a Test match in November 2018, when they beat Bangladesh.[13] Afghanistan won the second Test match by six wickets to draw the series 1–1,[14] with Hashmatullah Shahidi becoming the first batsman for Afghanistan to score a double century in Test cricket.[15]
Afghanistan won the first two T20I matches, by 48 and 45 runs, respectively, to win the series with a game to spare.[16] Afghanistan won the third and final match by 47 runs, with Asghar Afghan becoming the most successful captain in men's T20I cricket.[17]
Squads
edit| Tests | T20Is | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan[18]
|
 Zimbabwe[19]
|
Afghanistan[20]
|
Zimbabwe[21]
|
Afghanistan also named Zahir Khan and Abdul Wasi as reserve players for the Test matches.[22] Chamu Chibhabha, Zimbabwe's limited overs captain, did not travel for the T20I matches due to an injury.[23] The Afghanistan Cricket Board also confirmed that Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Hamid Hassan, Gulbadin Naib, Waqar Salamkheil, Azmatullah Omarzai could join the T20I squad once their visa issues had been resolved.[24]
Tour match
editTest series
edit1st Test
editv
|
||
17/0 (3.2 overs)
Kevin Kasuza 11* (12) |
- Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat.
- Munir Ahmad, Abdul Malik, Abdul Wasi (Afg) and Wesley Madhevere (Zim) all made their Test debuts.
- Ahmed Shah Pakteen (Afg) stood in his first Test as an umpire.[25]
- Blessing Muzarabani became the first bowler for Zimbabwe to take a wicket with the first ball of a Test.[26]
- Abdul Malik became the first batsman for Afghanistan to be dismissed for a pair in Tests.[27]
2nd Test
edit10–14 March 2021
Scorecard |
v
|
||
- Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat.
- Shahidullah and Sayed Shirzad (Afg) both made their Test debuts.
- Asghar Afghan (Afg) scored his first century in Tests.[28]
- Hashmatullah Shahidi scored his first Test century,[29] and became the first batsman for Afghanistan to score a double century in Tests.[30]
T20I series
edit1st T20I
editv
|
||
- Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field.
- Asghar Afghan played in his 50th T20I as a captain of Afghanistan.[31]
2nd T20I
edit3rd T20I
editv
|
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- Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat.
- Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afg) made his T20I debut.
- Aleem Dar (Pak) became the first on-field umpire to stand in 400 matches in international cricket.[33]
Notes
edit- ^ While five days of play were scheduled for each Test, the first Test reached a result in two days.
References
edit- ^ "Men's Future Tours Programme" (PDF). International Cricket Council. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ "Chevrons prepare for Afghanistan tour". The Herald. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ "Afghanistan, Zimbabwe look to flex Test credentials in maiden meeting". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- ^ "Afghanistan to Face Zimbabwe in Test Match". Tolo News. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Chevrons Bowler Jarvis Ruled Out Of Afghanistan Series". New Zimbabwe. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ "OCA Ground 1 gets ICC accreditation to host Test matches, ODIs and T20Is". Oman Cricket. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ "Oman Cricket Academy Ground approved for Test Cricket". Emerging Cricket. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ "Afghanistan vs ZimbabweTest & T20 Cricket Series-2021" (PDF). Afghanistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ "Zimbabwe Afghanistan cricket series likely to go ahead". Chronicle. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Govt Give Cricketers, FC Platinum Green Light To Resume Action". New Zimbabwe. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Afghanistan to play two Tests against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi". CricBuzz. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ "Afghanistan implode as two-day Test goes to Zimbabwe". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ^ "Williams, bowlers help Zimbabwe wrap up win in two days". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ^ "Rashid Khan's 11 wickets set up series-levelling Afghanistan win". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ "Afghanistan bounce back with series-levelling win against Zimbabwe". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ "Mohammad Nabi, Usman Ghani, Karim Janat seal series for Afghanistan with big win". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
- ^ "Najibullah Zadran, bowlers drive Afghanistan to series sweep". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "Rashid Khan in squad for Zimbabwe Tests, to miss large part of PSL season". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ "No Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine in Zimbabwe squad for Afghanistan Tests". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
- ^ "Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Gulbadin Naib wait on 'visa issue' ahead of T20I series". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ "Madhevere earns Test call-up as Zimbabwe name young squad for Afghanistan series". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ "Afghanistan pick eight uncapped players for Zimbabwe Tests". CricBuzz. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ "Chevrons Depart For Afghanistan Series". New Zimbabwe. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ "Afghanistan T20I squad announced albeit visa issues for Some Players". Afghanistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ "Ahmed Shah Pakteen becomes first on-field Test umpire from Afghanistan". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- ^ "Sean Williams' unbeaten 54 carries Zimbabwe into lead after Amir Hamza's four strikes". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ^ "Williams century, bowlers help Zimbabwe trounce Afghanistan in two-day finish at Abu Dhabi". The Hindu. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ^ "Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan in record stand as Afghanistan grind Zimbabwe". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ "Hashmatullah Shahidi gets to landmark 200 as Afghanistan batsmen dominate". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "AFG vs ZIM: Hashmatullah Shahidi becomes first Afghanistan batsman to score a double century in Test cricket". The Cricket Times. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "AFG vs ZIM Stats Preview 1st T20I Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe". India Fantasy. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ "Series on the line for Sean Williams' Zimbabwe against confident Afghanistan". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
- ^ "Aleem Dar became the first umpire to complete 400 matches in international". Reportr Door. Retrieved 20 March 2021.[permanent dead link]