World Cup co-host Zimbabwe face Group A rivals Afghanistan in UAE
ZIMBABWE will face Afghanistan up to seven times across three formats in the United Arab Emirates over the next month, a year before the two sides meet in Group A of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
The matches against Afghanistan include
one ODI in the tri-series, which also features Bangladesh, plus a possible meeting in the final, three T20Is and two Tests.
Zimbabwe, who co-host the World Cup with South Africa and Namibia, play Afghanistan at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on October 11, 2027. Group A also includes Australia, India, Pakistan and Qualifier A winner.
The squad left Harare on Tuesday. The tri-series runs from October 17-23. Zimbabwe open against Bangladesh on October 17 and face Afghanistan two days later. Afghanistan and Bangladesh meet on October 21 and the top two sides contest the final on October 23.
The T20I series follows from October 27 to November 1 and then the two Tests.
Zimbabwe head coach Justin Sammons described Afghanistan as one of the strongest white-ball sides in the game.
“It’s great to be having a series against Afghanistan. Like I said initially, they’re a really good side, especially from a white-ball point of view. We’ve had some good Tests against them of late, but in a white-ball space I think they’re a really dangerous team. So we’re going to have to be on it in all regards,” Sammons said.
“But it’ll give us good information in terms of building up to that all-important game in Bulawayo.”
The two sides last met when Afghanistan toured Zimbabwe in October 2025. Zimbabwe won the one-off Test at Harare Sports Club, with Ben Curran scoring 121 in the first innings. Afghanistan won the three-match T20I series 3-0 and Ibrahim Zadran was named Player of the Series after scoring 169 runs.
Stand-in captain Sikandar Raza, who leads the side in the absence of regular ODI captain Richard Ngarava, said results would remain the priority.
“Most importantly, try to win the tour — that remains the key,” Raza said.
With up to five white-ball matches and two Tests in a little over a month, Sammons said the fast bowlers would be rotated.
“Certainly we’re going to have to manage the bowlers. They won’t be playing every game. There’ll be periods where they’ll be resting and that is a given,” he said.
Zimbabwe go into the tour after a 2-1 home ODI series win over Bangladesh in July and a 3-0 series defeat to Australia in Harare in September.
The 2027 World Cup runs from October 2 to November 21 across 12 venues in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. It is the first World Cup in Africa since 2003.
