Ask ten cricket fans about Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, and most will shrug. Now ask about Rashid Khan’s debut. Ask about a 333/5 scored twice in two days. Ask about a Test that ended in under three days. Suddenly everyone has a story.
This is the full Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Timeline. It runs from July 2014 to October 2026. We look at every format, every series and every big moment.
In 57 meetings, Afghanistan have won 41 and Zimbabwe 14. One Test was drawn and one ODI was washed out. The numbers look one-sided, but the stories are not. Zimbabwe won a Test as recently as October 2025.
Let’s go through it, one era at a time.
Quick Snapshot: Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Stats
Here are the Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Stats across all formats, up to 5 October 2026.
| Format | Played | Afghanistan Won | Zimbabwe Won | Draw / No Result | First Meeting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 draw | 2 Mar 2021 |
| ODI | 31 | 20 | 10 | 1 no result | 18 Jul 2014 |
| T20I | 21 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 26 Oct 2015 |
| Total | 57 | 41 | 14 | 2 |
Disclaimer: This article is for information only. Match data was cross-checked at the time of writing, but records can change. Please confirm figures on ESPNcricinfo, Cricbuzz or the ICC website before using them elsewhere.
A few quick facts to keep in mind:
- Afghanistan have won every bilateral ODI series against Zimbabwe, except the 2014 series, which was split 2–2.
- Afghanistan have won six bilateral ODI series. One more ODI was played at the 2018 World Cup Qualifier, and Zimbabwe won it.
- Zimbabwe have won only two T20Is, in September 2019 and December 2024.
- In Tests, it is level at 2–2 with one draw.
The Early Years (2014–2016): A Full Member Meets A Rising Associate
July 2014: Zimbabwe Win The First Round
The story begins in Bulawayo. Zimbabwe won the first two ODIs, on 18 and 20 July 2014, by 6 wickets and 8 wickets. Afghanistan came back, and the four-match series ended 2–2.
At that time, Zimbabwe were a Full Member and Afghanistan were still an Associate. A draw felt like a win for the visitors.
October 2015: History In Bulawayo
The next tour changed the story. Afghanistan toured Zimbabwe from 8 to 29 October 2015. It was Afghanistan’s first-ever five-match bilateral ODI series.
| Date | Venue | Scores | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Oct 2015 | Bulawayo | AFG 122 (34.1); ZIM 126/2 (23.2) | Zimbabwe won by 8 wickets |
| 18 Oct 2015 | Zimbabwe | AFG 271/6; ZIM 213 (46.4) | Afghanistan won by 58 runs |
| 20 Oct 2015 | Bulawayo | AFG 223/8; ZIM 229/4 (49.4) | Zimbabwe won by 6 wickets |
| 22 Oct 2015 | Zimbabwe | ZIM 184/8; AFG 185/7 (46.4) | Afghanistan won by 3 wickets |
| 24 Oct 2015 | Bulawayo | AFG 245/9; ZIM 172 (44.1) | Afghanistan won by 73 runs |
Afghanistan won the decider and took the series 3–2. They became the first Associate side to beat a Full Member in a multi-game ODI series. Mohammad Nabi was Player of the Series, with 223 runs. He also scored his first ODI century in this series.
This tour also gave us a famous debut. Rashid Khan made his ODI debut on 18 October and his T20I debut on 26 October. Afghanistan then won both T20Is, on 26 and 28 October.
December 2015 – March 2016: Sharjah And Nagpur
Zimbabwe travelled to the UAE next, and Afghanistan won the five-match ODI series 3–2. Zimbabwe won two big ones, by 117 runs and 65 runs, on 2 and 4 January 2016. Afghanistan had already won on 25 December by 49 runs and on 29 December by 4 wickets.
The T20I series followed in Sharjah. Afghanistan won 2–0, including an 81-run win on 10 January 2016 in which they scored 215/6. That is still their highest T20I total against Zimbabwe.
The first and only T20 World Cup meeting came in Nagpur on 12 March 2016. Afghanistan made 186/6 and bowled Zimbabwe out for 127 in 19.4 overs. They won by 59 runs.
2017–2018: Harare, Sharjah And The 333 Coincidence
February 2017: A Five-Match Thriller In Harare
Afghanistan won the series 3–2 in Harare. Here is how it went:
- 16 Feb: Afghanistan won by 12 runs.
- 19 Feb: Afghanistan won by 54 runs.
- 21 Feb: Zimbabwe won by 3 runs. It was the lowest total Zimbabwe had ever defended in an ODI.
- 24 Feb: Zimbabwe won by 7 wickets in a rain-shortened chase. The target was 105 in 42 overs.
- 26 Feb: Afghanistan won by 106 runs.
February 2018: Same Score, Same Margin, Different Winner
This is the funniest two days in the rivalry. Here is the full Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Match Scorecard for the five Sharjah ODIs.
| Date | Scores | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Feb 2018 | AFG 333/5; ZIM 179 (34.4) | Afghanistan won by 154 runs |
| 11 Feb 2018 | ZIM 333/5; AFG 179 (30.1) | Zimbabwe won by 154 runs |
| 13 Feb 2018 | ZIM 154 (34.3); AFG 158/4 (27.3) | Afghanistan won by 6 wickets |
| 16 Feb 2018 | ZIM 134 (38); AFG 135/0 (21.1) | Afghanistan won by 10 wickets |
| 19 Feb 2018 | AFG 241/9; ZIM 95 (32.1) | Afghanistan won by 146 runs |
Afghanistan made 333/5 on 9 February. Rahmat Shah scored 114 and Najibullah Zadran hit 81 not out. Two days later, Zimbabwe also made 333/5, and Brendan Taylor scored 125. Both teams won by 154 runs.
Afghanistan then took control. Rashid Khan took a five-wicket haul on 13 February and was Player of the Series. On 16 February, Mujeeb Ur Rahman became the youngest player ever to take an ODI five-wicket haul. The match on 19 February was Zimbabwe’s 500th ODI.
Afghanistan also won both T20Is, on 5 and 6 February 2018. The ODI series finished 4–1.
March 2018: Zimbabwe Win At The World Cup Qualifier
Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 2 runs in Bulawayo on 6 March 2018. This was their only win over Afghanistan in an ICC qualification event.
2019–2022: Tri-Series, A First Test And Clean Sweeps
September 2019: A Rare Zimbabwe T20I Win
The two teams met twice in a tri-series in Bangladesh. Afghanistan won on 14 September in Mirpur by 28 runs, after scoring 197/5. Zimbabwe won on 20 September in Chattogram by 7 wickets. It was only their first T20I win over Afghanistan.
March 2021: The First Test
Zimbabwe toured the UAE in March 2021 for two Tests and three T20Is. It was the first time the teams played a Test against each other.
- First Test: Zimbabwe won by 10 wickets inside two days. Sean Williams scored a century. It was Zimbabwe’s first Test win since November 2018.
- Second Test: Afghanistan won by 6 wickets. Hashmatullah Shahidi scored 200 and became Afghanistan’s first Test double centurion. Asghar Afghan scored his first Test century. Rashid Khan took 11 wickets in the match.
- T20Is: Afghanistan won 3–0, by 48, 45 and 47 runs. Karim Janat was Player of the Series.
Williams was Player of the Series in the Tests. It was the first Test series for an Afghan on-field umpire too. Ahmed Shah Pakteen stood in both matches.
June 2022: A Six-Match Sweep In Harare
Afghanistan won the three ODIs by 60 runs, 8 wickets and 4 wickets. These games counted in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League, and Afghanistan took 10 points from each. Ibrahim Zadran scored his first ODI century on 6 June. Rahmat Shah was Player of the Series.
The three T20Is were also sweeps, by 6 wickets, 21 runs and 35 runs. Najibullah Zadran was Player of the Series. Noor Ahmad took four wickets on debut.
2024–2026: Records, Rain And A Zimbabwe Fightback
December 2024: Nabi’s 300th And A Dramatic T20I Series
The tour began on 11 December, and Zimbabwe won the first T20I by 4 wickets. Mohammad Nabi played his 300th international match. Afghanistan then won the next two T20Is, by 50 runs and 3 wickets. Naveen-ul-Haq was Player of the Series.
December 2024: Record ODI Win
The first ODI on 17 December was washed out. On 19 December, Sediqullah Atal scored 104 and added 191 for the first wicket with Abdul Malik, who made 84. Afghanistan posted 286/6 and bowled Zimbabwe out for 54. The 232-run win is Afghanistan’s biggest ODI win ever.
Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar took 3 wickets for 9 runs in that match. He took five wickets in the next game, which Afghanistan won by 8 wickets. Atal was Player of the Series.
Boxing Day 2024 And January 2025: Two Tests In Bulawayo
The first Test was a run-fest. Zimbabwe made 586, their highest-ever Test total. Brian Bennett scored his first Test century. Afghanistan replied with 699, their highest ever. Afsar Zazai scored his first Test century. Rahmat Shah made Afghanistan’s highest Test score, then Shahidi beat it with 246. Rain ruined most of Day 4, and the match was drawn.
The second Test started late because of rain. Muzarabani took six wickets for Zimbabwe. Afghanistan debutant Ismat Alam scored a century. Afghanistan won by 72 runs. Rahmat Shah was Player of the Series with 392 runs, and Rashid Khan took 11 wickets.
October–November 2025: Zimbabwe Strike Back
This was the best week for Zimbabwe in years. In Harare, from 20 to 22 October, they won by an innings and 73 runs. It was Zimbabwe’s first home Test win in 12 years. Ben Curran scored his first Test century. Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava each took a five-wicket haul. Ziaur Rahman took 7 wickets on debut for Afghanistan.
Afghanistan then won all three T20Is, by 53 runs, 7 wickets and 9 runs. Ibrahim Zadran scored 169 runs and was Player of the Series.
Test Cricket: Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Matches In Whites
These Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Matches are few, but they are full of action.
| Date | Venue | Zimbabwe | Afghanistan | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2–3 Mar 2021 | Abu Dhabi | 250 & 17/0 | 131 & 135 | Zimbabwe won by 10 wickets |
| 10–14 Mar 2021 | Abu Dhabi | 287 & 365 (f/o) | 545/4 d & 108/4 | Afghanistan won by 6 wickets |
| 26–30 Dec 2024 | Bulawayo | 586 & 142/4 | 699 | Draw |
| 2–6 Jan 2025 | Bulawayo | 243 & 205 | 157 & 363 | Afghanistan won by 72 runs |
| 20–22 Oct 2025 | Harare | 359 | 127 & 159 | Zimbabwe won by an innings and 73 runs |
ODI Journey: A Series-By-Series View
| Period | Venue | ODIs | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2014 | Bulawayo | 4 | 2–2 |
| Oct 2015 | Bulawayo | 5 | Afghanistan 3–2 |
| Dec 2015 – Jan 2016 | Sharjah | 5 | Afghanistan 3–2 |
| Feb 2017 | Harare | 5 | Afghanistan 3–2 |
| Feb 2018 | Sharjah | 5 | Afghanistan 4–1 |
| 6 Mar 2018 | Bulawayo (World Cup Qualifier) | 1 | Zimbabwe won by 2 runs |
| Jun 2022 | Harare | 3 | Afghanistan 3–0 |
| Dec 2024 | Harare | 3 | Afghanistan 2–0 (1 no result) |
Latest ODI Scorecards
Here is the latest Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Match Scorecard for the ODI series.
| Date | Venue | Scores | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jun 2022 | Harare | AFG 276/5; ZIM 216 | Afghanistan won by 60 runs |
| 6 Jun 2022 | Harare | ZIM 228; AFG 229/2 (44.3) | Afghanistan won by 8 wickets |
| 9 Jun 2022 | Harare | ZIM 135; AFG 137/6 (37.4) | Afghanistan won by 4 wickets |
| 17 Dec 2024 | Harare | ZIM 44/5 (9.2) | No result (rain) |
| 19 Dec 2024 | Harare | AFG 286/6; ZIM 54 (17.5) | Afghanistan won by 232 runs |
| 21 Dec 2024 | Harare | ZIM 127 (30.1); AFG 131/2 (26.5) | Afghanistan won by 8 wickets |
T20I Journey: The One-Sided Part Of The Story
Afghanistan have won 19 of the 21 T20Is. The full Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Match Scorecard list for T20Is is below.
| # | Date | Venue | Scores | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 Oct 2015 | Zimbabwe | ZIM 153/5; AFG 154/4 (19.1) | AFG by 6 wickets |
| 2 | 28 Oct 2015 | Bulawayo | ZIM 190/7; AFG 191/5 (19.5) | AFG by 5 wickets |
| 3 | 8 Jan 2016 | Sharjah | Scores not verified | AFG by 5 runs |
| 4 | 10 Jan 2016 | Sharjah | AFG 215/6 | AFG by 81 runs |
| 5 | 12 Mar 2016 | Nagpur | AFG 186/6; ZIM 127 (19.4) | AFG by 59 runs |
| 6 | 5 Feb 2018 | Sharjah | ZIM 120/9; AFG 121/5 (14.4) | AFG by 5 wickets |
| 7 | 6 Feb 2018 | Sharjah | AFG 158/9; ZIM 141/5 | AFG by 17 runs |
| 8 | 14 Sep 2019 | Mirpur | AFG 197/5 | AFG by 28 runs |
| 9 | 20 Sep 2019 | Chattogram | Scores not verified | ZIM by 7 wickets |
| 10 | 17 Mar 2021 | Abu Dhabi | AFG 198/5; ZIM 150/7 | AFG by 48 runs |
| 11 | 19 Mar 2021 | Abu Dhabi | AFG 193/5; ZIM 148 (17.1) | AFG by 45 runs |
| 12 | 20 Mar 2021 | Abu Dhabi | AFG 183/7; ZIM 136/5 | AFG by 47 runs |
| 13 | 11 Jun 2022 | Harare | ZIM 159/8; AFG 160/4 (19.2) | AFG by 6 wickets |
| 14 | 12 Jun 2022 | Harare | AFG 170/5; ZIM 149/7 | AFG by 21 runs |
| 15 | 14 Jun 2022 | Harare | AFG 125/8; ZIM 90/9 | AFG by 35 runs |
| 16 | 11 Dec 2024 | Harare | AFG 144/6; ZIM 145/6 | ZIM by 4 wickets |
| 17 | 13 Dec 2024 | Harare | AFG 153/6; ZIM 103 (17.4) | AFG by 50 runs |
| 18 | 14 Dec 2024 | Harare | ZIM 127 (19.5); AFG 128/7 (19.3) | AFG by 3 wickets |
| 19 | 29 Oct 2025 | Harare | AFG 180/6; ZIM 127 (16.1) | AFG by 53 runs |
| 20 | 31 Oct 2025 | Harare | ZIM 125 (19.3); AFG 129/3 (18) | AFG by 7 wickets |
| 21 | 2 Nov 2025 | Harare | AFG 210/3; ZIM 201 (20) | AFG by 9 runs |
ICC Matches Between Teams
Here is where the Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Timeline touches ICC events.
| ICC Event | Meetings | Result |
|---|---|---|
| ODI World Cup | None | In 2015 they were in different pools, and Zimbabwe missed 2019 and 2023 |
| T20 World Cup | 1 (Nagpur, 12 Mar 2016) | Afghanistan won by 59 runs. They were in different groups in 2026 |
| Champions Trophy | None | Zimbabwe’s last appearance was 2006, before Afghanistan debuted |
| World Cup Qualifier 2018 | 1 (Bulawayo, 6 Mar 2018) | Zimbabwe won by 2 runs |
| World Cup Super League 2022 | 3 ODIs (Harare) | Afghanistan won all three (10 points each) |
Key Players And Memorable Performances (Era Wise)
| Era | Afghanistan | Zimbabwe |
|---|---|---|
| 2014–2018 | Nabi (223 runs in 2015, first ODI century); Rashid Khan (debut 2015, five-for and Player of the Series in 2018); Rahmat Shah 114; Najibullah Zadran 81*; Mujeeb Ur Rahman, youngest ODI five-wicket taker | Brendan Taylor 125; Sikandar Raza 92; Hamilton Masakadza; Sean Williams |
| 2019–2022 | Shahidi 200 in Tests; Asghar Afghan’s first Test century; Rashid’s 11 wickets; Ibrahim Zadran’s first ODI century; Najibullah Zadran (Player of the Series, 2022 T20Is); Noor Ahmad | Sean Williams (century and Player of the Series in the 2021 Tests); Blessing Muzarabani; Ryan Burl |
| 2024–2026 | Atal 104; Ghazanfar’s five-for; Rahmat Shah (392 Test runs); Shahidi 246; Ismat Alam’s debut century; Ziaur Rahman (7 wickets on debut); Ibrahim Zadran (169 T20I runs) | Brian Bennett’s maiden Test ton; Muzarabani’s six-wicket haul; Ben Curran; Brad Evans; Richard Ngarava; Craig Ervine (254 Test runs in 2024–25) |
Three Players To Watch
- Rashid Khan: He debuted against Zimbabwe in 2015. By December 2024, he had 32 T20I wickets against them at an economy of 6.33. He also took 11 Test wickets in the 2025 series.
- Sikandar Raza: He has been Zimbabwe’s most consistent batter over many years, with 92 in the 2018 ODIs. He captains the T20I side.
- Ibrahim Zadran: He scored his first ODI century against Zimbabwe in 2022 and was Player of the Series in the 2025 T20Is.
Records Between The Teams
Highest totals
| Format | Afghanistan | Zimbabwe |
|---|---|---|
| Test | 699 (Bulawayo, Dec 2024) | 586 (Bulawayo, Dec 2024) |
| ODI | 333/5 (Sharjah, 9 Feb 2018) | 333/5 (Sharjah, 11 Feb 2018) |
| T20I | 215/6 (Sharjah, 10 Jan 2016) | 201 (Harare, 2 Nov 2025) |
Lowest totals in an innings
| Format | Afghanistan | Zimbabwe |
|---|---|---|
| Test | 127 (Harare, Oct 2025) | 205 (Bulawayo, Jan 2025) |
| ODI | 122* (Bulawayo, 16 Oct 2015) | 54 (Harare, 19 Dec 2024) |
| T20I | 125/8* (Harare, 14 Jun 2022) | 90/9 (Harare, 14 Jun 2022) |
*Lowest among the innings I could confirm. The official team-records page on ESPNcricinfo has the final figure.
Greatest wins
| Format | Afghanistan | Zimbabwe |
|---|---|---|
| Test | 72 runs (Bulawayo, Jan 2025) | Innings and 73 runs (Harare, Oct 2025); 10 wickets (Abu Dhabi, Mar 2021) |
| ODI | 232 runs (Harare, Dec 2024); 10 wickets (Sharjah, Feb 2018) | 154 runs (Sharjah, Feb 2018) |
| T20I | 81 runs (Sharjah, Jan 2016) | 7 wickets (Chattogram, Sep 2019) |
Why Does Afghanistan Win So Often? (Analysis)
This section is my own analysis. It is not a quote from a named expert.
Three things stand out in the Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Stats:
- Spin wins matches. Rashid, Mujeeb, Nabi and Ghazanfar have taken big hauls in ODIs and T20Is. Zimbabwe’s middle order has often collapsed against them.
- Strong opening stands. The 191-run stand in December 2024 is the best example. Afghanistan’s openers set the platform, and the middle order finishes it.
- Zimbabwe are better in long formats. Tests give them time. Their two wins in 2021 and 2025 came when their bowlers hit a good length and their top order was patient.
To add a real expert opinion, you could ask a former Zimbabwe or Afghanistan player for a short quote.
Review: I checked every number against ESPNcricinfo match pages and Wikipedia series pages. ICC reports were used for the milestones. Cricbuzz and ESPNcricinfo remain the best places for official figures.
What Is Next: The October–November 2026 Series
The Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Timeline gets new pages very soon. Afghanistan will host Zimbabwe in the UAE. The Afghanistan Cricket Board announced the squads on 1 October 2026.
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 2026 | ODI Tri-Series: Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| 27 Oct 2026 | 1st T20I | Sharjah |
| 29 Oct 2026 | 2nd T20I | Sharjah |
| 1 Nov 2026 | 3rd T20I | Sharjah |
| 5–9 Nov 2026 | 1st Test | Sharjah |
| 13–17 Nov 2026 | 2nd Test | Sharjah |
Bangladesh are the third team in the ODI Tri-Series. The final is on 23 October.
Where To Watch Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team
I could not find confirmed broadcasters for the October–November 2026 series. So Where To Watch Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team is best checked on the official channels of the Afghanistan Cricket Board and Zimbabwe Cricket. Live scores are available on ESPNcricinfo, Cricbuzz and the ICC website.
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Conclusion
The rivalry began with Zimbabwe as the Full Member and Afghanistan as the underdog. It has changed a lot since then. Afghanistan now dominate the short formats, with 39 wins in 52 limited-overs matches. Zimbabwe are level in Tests.
The full Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Timeline shows records, upsets and a few funny coincidences. The 333/5 double is still the best of them.
FAQs
Who leads the Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe head-to-head?
Afghanistan lead with 41 wins from 57 matches. Zimbabwe have 14.
Has Zimbabwe ever beaten Afghanistan in a Test?
Yes, twice. They won by 10 wickets in March 2021 and by an innings and 73 runs in October 2025.
What is the highest ODI total in this rivalry?
Both teams have made 333/5. Afghanistan did it on 9 February 2018, and Zimbabwe on 11 February 2018.
What is Afghanistan’s biggest ODI win over Zimbabwe?
It is the 232-run win in Harare on 19 December 2024. It is also Afghanistan’s biggest ODI win against any team.
Have they met in an ICC event?
Yes. They met in the 2016 T20 World Cup at Nagpur, and Afghanistan won by 59 runs. They also met in the 2018 World Cup Qualifier, where Zimbabwe won by 2 runs.
Explore the more information about for Match Scorecard, Stats at matchlifestats.com.
