The Sharjah Cricket Stadium pitch report points to a slow surface that should help spinners as the game goes on. The boundaries here are short, but the pitch slows down as a match progresses, which lets spinners trap batters. The final is on Friday, October 23, 2026, and starts at 3:30 PM local time (5:00 PM IST). No rain is forecast, so a full 50-over game is expected. Teams batting first have won 138 of the 264 ODIs played at this venue, against 124 for teams bowling first.
Afghanistan and Zimbabwe reach the final after meeting earlier in the league stage. Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh by 99 runs on October 17, and Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 158 runs on October 19. Sediqullah Atal scored 102 and Ibrahim Zadran made 90 in a total of 294, and Rashid Khan took four wickets. Rahmat Shah captains Afghanistan and Sikandar Raza leads Zimbabwe.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium Pitch Report for AFG vs ZIM Final
| Factor | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Pitch type | Slow, with the surface expected to get slower as the game goes on |
| Average first-innings score | 223 (venue ODI stats) |
| Spinners | Likely to get grip and turn in the middle overs |
| Boundaries | Short |
| Toss advantage | Batting first has won 138 ODIs here, and bowling first 124 |
Phase-by-Phase Pitch Behaviour
| Phase | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Powerplay (1 to 10) | The new ball comes on a bit better, so batters can settle if they see off the early overs |
| Middle overs (11 to 40) | The pitch slows down and spin comes into play, with Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and AM Ghazanfar for Afghanistan and Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl for Zimbabwe |
| Death overs (41 to 50) | The short boundaries give hitters a chance to score quickly if wickets are in hand |
| Second innings | A slower pitch makes chasing harder, though the highest chase here is 285/2 in 47.5 overs by Australia against Pakistan |
How the Pitch Plays at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Details on the soil and bounce have not been confirmed. The venue has hosted 264 ODIs, with 138 won batting first and 124 won bowling first. The average first-innings score is 223 and the average second-innings score is 190. These figures include women’s ODIs, so they may look lower than what the men’s teams usually score here.
Also Read: AFG vs ZIM Final Match 2026 Umpires
Sharjah Weather Forecast for October 23, 2026
| Detail | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Conditions | Sunny |
| Temperature | Around 33°C to 34°C, easing to about 32°C later in the evening |
| Rain chance | 0% |
| Humidity | 60% |
| Wind | 21 km/h |
There is no threat of rain, so a full match is expected. The heat and humidity could tire the fielding side, especially during a long chase.
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Sharjah Cricket Stadium ODI Records and Stats
| Record | Details |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 264 |
| Won batting first | 138 |
| Won chasing | 124 |
| Average first-innings score | 223 |
| Average second-innings score | 190 |
| Highest total | 364/7 (50 overs) by Pakistan vs New Zealand |
| Lowest total | 54/10 (26.3 overs) by India vs Sri Lanka |
| Highest score chased | 285/2 (47.5 overs) by Australia vs Pakistan |
| Lowest score defended | 138/9 (50 overs) by Pakistan Women vs Sri Lanka Women |
The stadium has a capacity of 16,000 and hosts the United Arab Emirates national team. The two ends are the Pavilion End and the Sharjah Club End.
Must Read: India A vs New Zealand A 2026 Schedule
AFG vs ZIM Head-to-Head in ODIs
| Matches | Afghanistan Won | Zimbabwe Won | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 21 | 10 | 1 |
What Should the Captains Do at Sharjah Cricket Stadium?
The toss winner is likely to bat first, because the pitch should slow down and favour spin later in the game, and the afternoon start means dew is unlikely to help the chasing side. A total comfortably above the venue average of 223 would put the side batting first in a strong position. Rahmat Shah will lean on Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and AM Ghazanfar in the middle overs, and on Fazalhaq Farooqi at the start and end of the innings. His batters Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal will look to build on their form from the last meeting. Sikandar Raza will look to Blessing Muzarabani to take early wickets, with Ryan Burl and himself holding the middle overs. Brian Bennett and Ben Curran will need to bat well against the Afghan spinners. The side that handles the spin in the middle overs and keeps wickets in hand for the last ten overs is likely to lift the trophy.
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