Afghanistan secured the tri-nation series trophy in commanding fashion on Wednesday, dismantling Zimbabwe by seven wickets in a one-sided final. The victory, achieved with 93 balls to spare, was built on a stifling bowling performance followed by a methodical chase led by opening batsman Ibrahim Zadran.
The tone for the match was set early by the Afghan pace attack. Fazalhaq Farooqi delivered critical breakthroughs at the start of the innings, while Bilal Sami’s high-velocity spells unsettled the Zimbabwean top order. The pressure proved insurmountable for Zimbabwe, whose top-order struggles continued as they were reduced to three wickets down for fewer than 30 runs for the third time in the series.
Once the openers were removed, Afghanistan’s veteran spin duo took full control. Rashid Khan, later named Player of the Series, dismantled the middle and lower order to finish with three wickets. Mohammad Nabi provided his trademark discipline, conceding just 2.50 runs per over while picking up two vital scalps. Apart from captain Sikandar Raza, who attempted to anchor the innings, the Zimbabwean batting lineup failed to mount a significant resistance, leaving the side with a total that was well below par for a championship final.
In response, Afghanistan’s chase was clinical. Rahmanullah Gurbaz provided an explosive start, contributing 36 runs and effectively breaking the spirit of the defense. Ibrahim Zadran then took charge, playing an elegant and steady knock. Zadran finished unbeaten on 70, a performance that earned him Player of the Match honors. Captain Rahmat Shah added 43 runs, ensuring the side crossed the finish line without any late-game tension.
Speaking after the trophy presentation, Rahmat Shah expressed pride in his team’s execution. He noted that the batting strategy focused on rotating the strike and maintaining calm rather than searching for boundaries. “Whatever plan we make, whether in batting or bowling, we try to execute it calmly,” Shah said, attributing the win to the hard work put in during training.
For Zimbabwe, the defeat prompted a period of introspection. Captain Sikandar Raza was vocal about his disappointment, specifically addressing the team’s recurring habit of reaching finals but failing to secure the trophy. Raza noted that the team’s inability to acclimatize—having arrived in the subcontinent only two days before their first match—played a role in their physical struggles with the heat and humidity. He also highlighted a mounting injury list, including Craig Ervine, who has been playing through a grade-one hamstring tear.
“This business of us making finals needs to stop,” Raza said. “Once we get to the final, we have to win it. Zimbabwe needs to change. We have made plenty of finals and just existed.” Raza expressed hope that the upcoming T20 and Test series would be more competitive once the squad has had ten days to adjust to the local conditions.
Despite the victory, Rashid Khan remained critical of his team’s trajectory, looking ahead to the next World Cup cycle and major events like the Asia Cup. While celebrating the morale boost, he stressed the need for the fast-bowling department to improve and for the top order to take more responsibility in high-pressure games.
Afghanistan will now carry this momentum into the T20 series, looking to build on what they described as a well-oiled team performance that serves as a foundational step for their long-term international ambitions.
