Table of Contents
Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe: from 2014’s gritty draws in Bulawayo to 2025’s historic Test revenge and relentless T20 sweeps. Spin masters clash with fighting spirit in every format. This rivalry has delivered collapses, last-ball thrillers, centuries, and upsets. Here’s the complete scorecard saga – every match, hero, heartbreak, and record up to February 2026.
Latest Matches
Recent Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Timeline encounters across formats (as of February 2026)
| Tournament | Venue | Date | Toss | Afghanistan Score | Zimbabwe Score | Result | Series | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilateral T20I | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 02 Nov 2025 | Afghanistan elected to bat | 210/3 (20 overs) | 201 (20 overs) | Afghanistan won by 9 runs | Afghanistan in Zimbabwe 2025 | Rahmanullah Gurbaz |
| Bilateral T20I | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 31 Oct 2025 | Zimbabwe elected to bat | 129/3 (18 overs) | 125 (20 overs) | Afghanistan won by 7 wickets | Afghanistan in Zimbabwe 2025 | Rashid Khan |
| Bilateral T20I | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 29 Oct 2025 | Afghanistan elected to bat | 180/6 (20 overs) | 127 (16.1 overs) | Afghanistan won by 53 runs | Afghanistan in Zimbabwe 2025 | Azmatullah Omarzai |
| Only Test | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 20-22 Oct 2025 | Zimbabwe elected to field | 127 & 159 | 359 | Zimbabwe won by an innings & 73 runs | Afghanistan in Zimbabwe 2025 | Ben Curran |
| 3rd T20I | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 14 Dec 2024 | Afghanistan elected to field | 128/7 (19.3 overs) | 127 (19.5 overs) | Afghanistan won by 3 wickets | Afghanistan in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | Azmatullah Omarzai (AFG) |
| 2nd T20I | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 13 Dec 2024 | Afghanistan elected to bat | 153/6 (20 overs) | 103 (17.4 overs) | Afghanistan won by 50 runs | Afghanistan in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | Darwish Rasooli (AFG) |
| 1st T20I | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 11 Dec 2024 | Afghanistan elected to bat | 144/6 (20 overs) | 145/6 (20 overs) | Zimbabwe won by 4 wickets | Afghanistan in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | Brian Bennett (ZIM) |
| 3rd ODI | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 21 Dec 2024 | Afghanistan elected to field | 131/2 (26.5 overs) | 127 (30.1 overs) | Afghanistan won by 8 wickets | Afghanistan in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | AM Ghazanfar (AFG) |
| 2nd ODI | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 19 Dec 2024 | Zimbabwe elected to field | 286/6 (50 overs) | 54 (17.5 overs) | Afghanistan won by 232 runs | Afghanistan in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | Sediqullah Atal (AFG) |
| 1st ODI | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 17 Dec 2024 | Afghanistan elected to field | – | 44/5 (9.2 overs) | No Result (rain) | Afghanistan in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | – |
| 2nd Test | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 02-06 Jan 2025 | Zimbabwe elected to field | 157 & 363 | 243 & 205 | Afghanistan won by 72 runs | Afghanistan in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | Rashid Khan (AFG) |
| 1st Test | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 26-30 Dec 2024 | Zimbabwe elected to bat | 699 | 586 & 142/4 | Match Drawn | Afghanistan in Zimbabwe 2024/25 | Hashmatullah Shahidi (AFG) |
Greatest Matches in Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe Rivalry
| Rank | Date & Match | Format | Venue | Scoreline | Epic Moments & Why It’s Legendary | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26–30 Dec 2024 1st Test | Test | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | AFG 699 ZIM 586 & 142/4 | Highest team totals ever for both nations in a Test! 364-run 3rd wicket stand (Rahmat-Shahidi), multiple centuries, run-fest madness | Match Drawn (Batting Paradise) |
| 2 | 19 Dec 2024 2nd ODI | ODI | Harare Sports Club, Harare | AFG 286/6 ZIM 54 | Afghanistan’s BIGGEST ODI win ever (232 runs). Zimbabwe collapsed dramatically — pure aggression & bowling masterclass | Afghanistan won by 232 runs |
| 3 | 20–22 Oct 2025 Only Test | Test | Harare Sports Club, Harare | ZIM 359 AFG 127 & 159 | Zimbabwe’s first-ever innings victory over Afghanistan in Tests. Brutal pace & spin dominance on home soil | Zimbabwe won by inns & 73 runs |
| 4 | 22 Jul 2014 3rd ODI | ODI | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | ZIM 261/8 AFG 264/8 (49.4) | Nail-biting chase thriller — Afghanistan needed 61 off last 5 overs. Dawlat Zadran smashed winning six with 2 balls left! | Afghanistan won by 2 wickets |
| 5 | 09 Jan 2016 2nd T20I | T20I | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | AFG 215/6 ZIM 134 | Mohammad Shahzad’s explosive 118* (then 4th highest T20I score ever). Pure aggression & fireworks from Afghanistan | Afghanistan won by 81 runs |
| 6 | 02 Nov 2025 3rd T20I | T20I | Harare Sports Club, Harare | AFG 210/3 ZIM 201 | High-scoring slugfest! Afghanistan posted 210, Zimbabwe fought back to 201. Just 9 runs short — edge-of-seat finish | Afghanistan won by 9 runs |
| 7 | 11 Dec 2024 1st T20I | T20I | Harare Sports Club, Harare | AFG 144/6 ZIM 145/6 | Zimbabwe finally broke their long losing streak against Afghanistan. Perfect chase under pressure | Zimbabwe won by 4 wickets |
| 8 | 02–06 Jan 2025 2nd Test | Test | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | AFG 157 & 363 ZIM 243 & 205 | Rashid Khan’s magic + fighting spirit. Afghanistan came back strongly after first innings deficit | Afghanistan won by 72 runs |
Overall Head-to-Head Stats Table (Up to Feb 2026)
| Category | Record/Details | Player/Team Highlight | Why It Matters / Interesting Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Matches (All Formats) | ~50+ (ODI ~31, T20I ~16-18, Test 3-4) | Afghanistan dominant in limited-overs | AFG won ~33-35, ZIM ~15-17 (exact varies by source) |
| ODI Wins | Afghanistan 20+, Zimbabwe 10 | AFG 4-1 series wins common | AFG’s rise: From 2-2 in 2014 to 4-1 in 2018 |
| T20I Wins | Afghanistan 11-13, Zimbabwe 2-5 | AFG sweeps (2022 3-0, 2025 3-0) | Zim’s rare bite: 2024 1st T20 last-ball win |
| Test Wins | 1-1 (plus draws) | Zim innings & 73 runs, Harare 2025 | Zim’s biggest Test win ever; ended home drought |
| Highest Team Total (ODI) | 333/5 (AFG) | Sharjah 2018 | First 300+ in rivalry; Rahmat Shah 102 |
| Highest Team Total (T20I) | 215/6 (AFG) or 210/3 (AFG 2025) | Multiple high scores | Explosive batting: Gurbaz/Zadran fireworks |
| Lowest Team Total | 58 all out (AFG 2016 ODI), 95 (ZIM) | Collapses under spin/seam | Rare lows; Zim’s 95 in 2018 humiliation |
| Highest Successful Chase | 257/2 (ZIM 2014 ODI) | Sikandar Raza 141* | Early statement: Zim hunted big totals |
| Biggest Win Margin | Innings & 73 runs (ZIM Test 2025) | Ben Curran 121, Ngarava 5/37 | Zim’s revenge after T20 sweep; historic margin |
| Biggest ODI Win Margin | 232 runs / 154 runs (AFG) | Multiple thrashings | AFG dominance peaks in UAE series |
| Key Record | AFG unbeaten in last 10+ limited-overs | Post-2022 sweeps | Momentum shift; spin (Rashid/Mujeeb) rules |
| Player Battles | Rashid Khan spells vs Raza counters | Multiple Player of Series | Decides games: Spin vs all-round fight |
Early Clashes Scorecards: 2014-2017 – When Afghanistan Rose Fast
Bulawayo, July 2014. Afghanistan’s first-ever ODI series against a Full Member. Zimbabwe grabbed the first two – chasing 222 and then smashing 257/2 (Sikandar Raza 141 off 133). Afghanistan refused to die. They stole the 3rd by 2 wickets chasing 262 and crushed the 4th by 100 runs (AFG 259, ZIM 159). Series drawn 2-2. Afghanistan announced: we belong.
Fast-forward to Sharjah, Dec 2015-Jan 2016. Afghanistan won the 5-ODI series 3-2 and whitewashed the T20Is 2-0. Mohammad Shahzad went nuclear – 118* off 67 in the 2nd T20I (AFG 215/6 beat ZIM 134 by 81 runs). Plus the WT20 2016 thriller in Nagpur: AFG 186/6, ZIM 127 – 59-run win. One collapse (58 all out) but pure dominance otherwise.
| Category | Record | Player/Match Details | Why It Mattered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest Individual | 141 | Sikandar Raza, 2nd ODI 2014 | Zimbabwe’s biggest partnership ever |
| Highest Successful Chase | 257/2 | ZIM vs AFG 256, 2nd ODI 2014 | Proved they could hunt big totals |
| Biggest Win Margin | 100 runs | AFG beat ZIM, 4th ODI 2014 | First big statement |
| Highest T20 Total | 215/6 | AFG vs ZIM, 2nd T20I Jan 2016 | Shahzad fireworks |
| Monster T20 Innings | 118* off 67 | Mohammad Shahzad, 2nd T20I 2016 | Series-sealing masterclass |
| Biggest Collapse | 58 all out | AFG, 3rd ODI Jan 2016 | Rare low but they still won series |
| Series Dominance | 3-2 ODI + 2-0 T20 | UAE 2015-16 | Full control over Full Member |
2015-2018 ODI Wars Scorecards – Afghanistan’s Dominance Begins
October 2015, Zimbabwe. First 5-ODI battle on African soil. Afghanistan crashed for 122 in the opener, lost by 8 wickets. They bounced back with 271/6 (58-run win) and 245/9 (73-run win). Zimbabwe stole the 3rd chasing 280 by 2 wickets. Afghanistan sealed 3-2.
February 2018, Sharjah. Total slaughter. Afghanistan exploded for 333/5 in the 1st (Rahmat Shah 102) – smashed Zimbabwe by 154 runs. The 5th? Zimbabwe collapsed to 95 all out, Afghanistan won by 146 runs. Series 4-1. Rashid Khan’s spin was unplayable.
From equals to rulers. Afghanistan’s ODI era had truly begun.
| Category | Record | Player/Match Details | Why It Mattered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest Team Total | 333/5 | AFG 1st ODI, Feb 2018 Sharjah | First 300+ in rivalry history |
| Highest Individual | 102 | Rahmat Shah, 1st ODI 2018 | Match-winning century |
| Biggest Win Margin | 154 runs | AFG beat ZIM 1st ODI 2018 | Heaviest defeat for ZIM then |
| Lowest Opponent Total | 95 all out | ZIM 5th ODI Feb 2018 | Humiliating collapse |
| Best Bowling | 3/13 | Rashid Khan, 5th ODI 2018 | Spin magic ended series |
| Key Chase | 185/7 (46.4 ov) | AFG 4th ODI 2015 Bulawayo | 3-wicket thriller |
| Series Shift | 3-2 then 4-1 | 2015 Zim + 2018 UAE | From tight to total control |
2022 Zimbabwe Tour Scorecards – Afghanistan’s Clean Sweeps
June 2022, Harare. Afghanistan arrived hungry and left unstoppable. 3-0 ODI whitewash + 3-0 T20I domination. Total humiliation for Zimbabwe on home soil. First ODI: Afghanistan 276/5 (Rahmat Shah 94), Zimbabwe 216 – 60-run win. Second: Zimbabwe 228, Afghanistan chased 229/2 in 44.3 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 162* unbeaten masterpiece, Rahmat 77). Series sealed. Third: Zimbabwe collapsed to 135, Afghanistan 137/6 in 37.4 – 4-wicket win (Rashid Khan Player of the Match).
T20Is followed suit. First: Zimbabwe 159/8, Afghanistan 160/4 in 19.2 (Najibullah Zadran fireworks). Second: Afghanistan 170/5 beat Zimbabwe 149/7 by 21 runs. Third: Afghanistan 125/8 restricted Zimbabwe to 90/9 – 35-run victory. Spin choked, batting clicked. Afghanistan swept both formats 3-0. Pure dominance.
| Category | Record | Player/Match Details | Why It Mattered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest Individual | 162* | Ibrahim Zadran, 2nd ODI | Unbeaten chase hero, series clincher |
| Highest Successful Chase | 229/2 in 44.3 ov | AFG vs ZIM 228, 2nd ODI | Comfortable dominance |
| Biggest Win Margin (ODI) | 60 runs | 1st ODI | Strong opening statement |
| Lowest Opponent Total (ODI) | 135 all out | ZIM 3rd ODI | Total batting failure |
| Best Bowling (T20) | Key spells (e.g., Mujeeb/Rashid) | Multiple matches | Spin trap sealed sweeps |
| Highest T20 Total | 170/5 | AFG 2nd T20I | Solid platform in low-scorer |
| Series Sweep | 3-0 ODI + 3-0 T20I | Entire tour | First full bilateral clean sweep |
| Key Partnership | 195-run (2nd wicket) | Ibrahim Zadran & Rahmat Shah, 2nd ODI | Match-winning stand |
2025 Afghanistan Tour of Zimbabwe – Epic T20I Sweep Scorecards
October-November 2025, Harare Sports Club. Afghanistan arrived post-Test heartbreak but unleashed pure T20 fury. 3-0 sweep – clinical, ruthless, unstoppable. First T20I (Oct 29): Afghanistan 180/6 (Ibrahim Zadran 52 off 33, solid top order). Zimbabwe folded to 127 in 16.1 overs – 53-run thrashing, Mujeeb’s spin magic key.
Second T20I (Oct 31): Zimbabwe 125 all out (early collapse). Afghanistan chased 126/3 in 18 overs (7-wkt win, 12 balls spare) – Rashid Khan’s all-round show sealed it.
Third T20I (Nov 2): Afghanistan exploded to 210/3 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz fireworks, massive powerplay). Zimbabwe fought to 201 all out – 9-run nail-biter. Gurbaz & Ibrahim’s 159-run opening stand swept the series. Harare stunned, Afghanistan dominant again.
| Category | Record | Player/Match Details | Why It Mattered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest Team Total | 210/3 | AFG 3rd T20I Nov 2 | Series-high explosion, set unbeatable platform |
| Highest Individual | 52 (33 balls) | Ibrahim Zadran, 1st T20I | Anchored opener, series momentum |
| Biggest Win Margin | 53 runs | 1st T20I Oct 29 | Crushing start, Zimbabwe demoralized |
| Lowest Opponent Total | 125 all out | ZIM 2nd T20I Oct 31 | Batting failure under spin pressure |
| Closest Finish | 9 runs | 3rd T20I Nov 2 (ZIM 201 chasing 211) | Thriller despite sweep, late fightback |
| Key Partnership | 159-run opening | Gurbaz & Ibrahim Zadran, 3rd T20I | Record stand, series-sealing masterclass |
| Best Bowling Impact | Rashid Khan spells | Multiple (incl. 3-fer in 2nd) | All-round hero, Player of Match/Series vibe |
| Series Sweep | 3-0 T20I | Entire tour | Post-Test revenge, total control |
What’s Next? 2026 Outlook & Rivalry Future
February 2026: The Afghanistan-Zimbabwe rivalry burns hotter than ever. No direct bilateral clash yet in 2026 (post-2025 Test revenge and T20 sweep), but the T20 World Cup in India/Sri Lanka looms large. Afghanistan in Group D (with South Africa, New Zealand, UAE, Canada) – they’ve already beaten UAE but lost to NZ, still fighting for Super Eight. Zimbabwe in Group B (Sri Lanka, Australia, Ireland, Oman) – massive upset beating Australia by 23 runs, sitting strong with high NRR. No head-to-head in groups, but if both advance to Super Eight or beyond, fireworks possible. FTP hints at Zimbabwe touring Afghanistan late 2026–early 2027: 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is – red-ball revenge shot for Afghanistan after Harare humiliation. Spin duels (Rashid vs Raza) could decide formats. This feud keeps rising: Afghanistan’s T20 flair vs Zimbabwe’s grit. Expect more epics shaping associate-to-full status.
| Category | Projection/Highlight | Key Details | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Next Potential Clash | T20 World Cup Super Eight? | If both qualify (AFG Group D, ZIM Group B) | High-stakes global stage thriller |
| Upcoming Bilateral | Zimbabwe tour of Afghanistan | Late 2026–Jan 2027: 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is | Afghanistan home revenge chance |
| Key Player Battle | Rashid Khan vs Sikandar Raza | Spin mastery in all formats | Decides tight chases & collapses |
| Format to Watch | Tests (red-ball growth) | Zimbabwe’s 2025 innings win momentum | Could shift power balance |
| T20 Upset Potential | Zimbabwe’s Australia beat | 23-run win in Group B, Feb 2026 | Proves they can shock big teams |
| AFG Must-Win Scenario | Beat Canada/NZ in Group D | To push NRR & reach Super Eight | Keeps rivalry alive in WC |
| ZIM Strength | High NRR after upsets | +1.984 in Group B so far | Could top group, face AFG later |
| Long-Term Impact | FTP series in 2027 | Multi-format home/away wars | Defines future associate battles |
Conclusion
Afghanistan’s limited-overs dominance meets Zimbabwe’s never-say-die grit. The 2025 Test innings win flipped the script, but T20 World Cup sparks and upcoming tours promise more fireworks. This scorecard rivalry keeps associate cricket alive – raw passion, big moments, endless drama. What’s next? Another epic chapter awaits. Watch this space.
