Afghanistan's national cricket team completed a standout week of white-ball cricket against Zimbabwe in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, securing an One Day International tri-series championship and taking a 2-0 lead in their Twenty20 International series. The fixtures featured a landmark individual milestone, with leg-spinner Rashid Khan becoming the first bowler in T20I history to take 200 wickets.
Rashid Khan makes T20I history with 200th wicket
In the second match of the three-game T20I series, star leg-spinner Rashid Khan entered the record books by becoming the first bowler to reach 200 wickets in international Twenty20 cricket. Khan achieved the feat in his 120th match when he trapped Zimbabwe's Tadiwanashe Marumani leg-before-wicket in the ninth over of the run chase.
England's Adil Rashid sits second on the all-time list with 171 wickets in 153 appearances. Khan's achievement capped a vintage performance in which he also smashed a quickfire 25 not out off just six balls at the end of Afghanistan's innings, hitting four sixes to push his side to a decisive total.
Omarzai leads dramatic T20 recovery
The T20 series victory followed one of the most remarkable comebacks in short-format cricket. After being put in to bat by Zimbabwe, Afghanistan fell into deep trouble, slumping to five runs for four wickets within the early powerplay overs and eventually reaching 38 for five.
Azmatullah Omarzai and Ijaz Ahmadzai then staged a historic rescue mission. The pair shared a 142-run partnership—the highest sixth-wicket stand in T20I history. Omarzai hit his maiden T20I century, scoring 116 runs off 50 deliveries with 12 sixes and five boundaries. Ahmadzai added 52 runs to lift Afghanistan to 221 for seven in their 20 overs. It marked the first time any team scored more than 200 runs after losing four wickets for under 20 runs.
Zimbabwe staged a spirited chase in reply. Captain Sikandar Raza smashed an unbeaten 106 off 56 balls, combining with Tafadzwa Tsiga for an unbroken 120-run sixth-wicket partnership. However, Zimbabwe fell 19 runs short, finishing at 202 for five as Afghanistan sealed an unassailable series lead.
Dominant bowling seals ODI tri-series title
The T20 success followed Afghanistan's comfortable seven-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the final of the ODI tri-nation series in Sharjah. Afghanistan bowled Zimbabwe out for 169 runs in 43.3 overs before cruising to the target in 34.3 overs.
Rashid Khan spearheaded the attack in the 50-over final, finishing with figures of three wickets for 41 runs. His spell marked his sixth consecutive ODI match with at least three wickets, matching a historic record set by former Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul.
In response, Ibrahim Zadran anchored the chase with an unbeaten 70, while captain Rahmat Shah contributed 43 runs to wrap up the championship. The win extended Rahmat's undefeated streak as ODI captain to seven matches since taking charge of the team.
Head coach Pybus praises squad depth
Speaking after the tri-series final, Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus lauded the depth and balance of his bowling lineup, describing it as a "very diverse but a very competent bowling unit."
"The spin bowling has been excellent throughout the week," Pybus said. "We have some fantastic spinners. Rashid has been phenomenal, but he's not on his own. He's been supported with a very diverse but a very competent bowling unit, and they end up taking wickets for each other."
Pybus also emphasized the need for Afghanistan to secure more frequent fixtures against top-tier opposition to continue their international progression.
"We don't get the quality of opportunity with regards to some of the other Full-Member sides in terms of being able to play the top sides consistently, which I think is really critical for our development as a side," Pybus added.
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