Ahmed Shah Pakteen, Ahsan Raza or Allahuddien Paleker are expected to be the on-field umpires for the AFG vs ZIM 1st T20I of the Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe in UAE 2026 series on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah. Farooq Khan is expected to be the TV or fourth umpire, and David Gilbert is expected to be the match referee. The match starts at 8:00 PM IST, and the toss is at 7:30 PM IST. Live streaming in India is on FanCode.
This is the first match of the three-match T20I series. Afghanistan are led by Ibrahim Zadran and Zimbabwe by Sikandar Raza.
AFG vs ZIM 1st T20I: Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 1st T20I |
| Series | Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe in UAE, 2026 |
| Date | Tuesday, October 27, 2026 |
| Match time | 6:30 PM local, 2:30 PM GMT, 8:00 PM IST |
| Toss | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah |
| Live streaming in India | FanCode |
| Afghanistan captain | Ibrahim Zadran |
| Zimbabwe captain | Sikandar Raza |
AFG vs ZIM 1st T20I: Expected Umpires and Match Referee
| Role | Official |
|---|---|
| On-field umpire | Ahmed Shah Pakteen |
| On-field umpire | Ahsan Raza |
| On-field umpire | Allahuddien Paleker |
| TV/fourth umpire | Farooq Khan |
| Match referee (expected) | David Gilbert |
Ahmed Shah Pakteen
Ahmed Shah Pakteen is an umpire from Afghanistan who officiates in international matches. He is in the expected on-field umpire pool for the 1st T20I of the Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe series.
Ahsan Raza
Ahsan Raza is a Pakistan umpire who works on the ICC International Panel. He is in the expected on-field umpire pool for the 1st T20I of the Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe series.
Allahuddien Paleker
Allahuddien Paleker is a South African umpire who works on the ICC Elite Panel. He is in the expected on-field umpire pool for the 1st T20I of the Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe series.
Farooq Khan
Farooq Khan is an umpire from Afghanistan who officiates in international matches. He is expected to be the TV or fourth umpire for the 1st T20I of the Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe series.
David Gilbert
David Gilbert is a former Australian cricketer and an ICC match referee. He is expected to be the match referee for the 1st T20I of the Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe series.
Also Read: India vs New Zealand 2026 Schedule
AFG vs ZIM 1st T20I: Expected Commentators
The broadcast details for the series are decided by the host broadcaster, so the final commentary panel has not been announced. The panel is expected to be drawn from the names below.
| Commentator |
|---|
| Devender Kumar |
| Alistair Campbell |
| Ed Rainsford |
| Hamid Zadran |
| Asif Khan |
Also Read: West Indies vs Bangladesh 2026 Schedule
AFG vs ZIM 1st T20I Squads
Afghanistan squad:
Ibrahim Zadran (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Noor ul Rahman, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Akram, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Abdullah Tarakhail.
Zimbabwe squad:
Sikandar Raza (c), Ben Curran, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, Brian Bennett, Innocent Kaia, Newman Nyamhuri, Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Kundai Matigimu, Wessly Madhevere, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Vincent Masekesa.
Must Read: NZ vs IND 3rd T20I 2026 Live Streaming
AFG vs ZIM 1st T20I: Venue Guide
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Stadium | Sharjah Cricket Stadium |
| City | Sharjah, United Arab Emirates |
| Capacity | 16,000 |
| Ends | Pavilion End, Sharjah Club End |
| Hosts to | United Arab Emirates |
Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe in UAE 2026 Schedule
| Match | Date | Teams | Venue | Local Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | October 27 | Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe | Sharjah | 6:30 PM |
| 2nd T20I | October 29 | Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe | Sharjah | 6:30 PM |
| 3rd T20I | November 1 | Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe | Sharjah | 6:30 PM |
| 1st Test | November 5 to 9 | Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe | Sharjah | 10:00 AM |
| 2nd Test | November 13 to 17 | Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe | Sharjah | 10:00 AM |
Must Read: NZ vs IND 3rd T20I Pitch Report
