The AFG vs ZIM 1st T20I pitch report at Sharjah Cricket Stadium points to a slow surface that gives the side batting first a small edge on record. A first-innings score of around 145 is par based on the venue average of 145, though scores can go higher, as the highest total here is 215/6 by Afghanistan against Zimbabwe. Weather is not a worry, with a sunny day and no rain forecast. The match is on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 6:30 PM local time (8:00 PM IST) in Sharjah, with the toss at 7:30 PM IST.
Afghanistan are in good form, having beaten Zimbabwe in the final of the tri-series on October 23. Ibrahim Zadran leads Afghanistan, and Sikandar Raza captains Zimbabwe. This is the first match of the three-match T20I series.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium Pitch Report for AFG vs ZIM 1st T20I
| Factor | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Pitch type | Slow, with a small edge to the side batting first, based on the venue record |
| Par first-innings score | Around 145 (venue average: 145) |
| Best for batting | The first innings, as the average second-innings score is lower |
| Fast bowlers | New ball in the powerplay, though no pace or swing data was available |
| Spinners | Likely to help in the middle overs, though this is not confirmed |
| Boundaries | To be confirmed |
| Dew | To be confirmed |
| Toss advantage | Batting first has won 44 T20s here and bowling first 31 |
Phase-by-Phase Pitch Behaviour
| Phase | How the Pitch Is Likely to Play |
|---|---|
| Powerplay (1 to 6) | Early wickets can swing the game. Afghanistan have Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai, while Zimbabwe have Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans and Newman Nyamhuri |
| Middle overs (7 to 15) | Spinners can help control the scoring. Afghanistan have Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Zimbabwe have Sikandar Raza, Wellington Masakadza and Ryan Burl |
| Death overs (16 to 20) | Scoring should rise, and the highest total here is 215/6 in 20 overs by Afghanistan against Zimbabwe |
| Second innings | The average is 123, and the highest chase is 206/8 in 19.5 overs by UAE against Bangladesh |
How the Pitch Plays at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Details on the soil, bounce and grass cover have not been confirmed. The venue stats show 75 T20s, with 44 won batting first and 31 won bowling first. Scores drop in the chase, from an average of 145 in the first innings to 123 in the second. These figures include women’s T20s, so the men’s averages may differ.
The highest total here is 215/6 by Afghanistan against Zimbabwe, and the highest chase is 206/8 by UAE against Bangladesh, which shows that big targets can be chased on this ground. The lowest total is 38/10 in 10.4 overs by Hong Kong against Pakistan, and the lowest score defended is 119/7 in 20 overs by Bangladesh Women against Scotland Women.
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Sharjah Weather Forecast for AFG vs ZIM 1st T20I
The forecast for Tuesday points to a sunny, dry and warm day.
| Detail | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Conditions | Sunny |
| Temperature | 33°C high, 28°C low, with 33°C at 5 PM, 32°C at 8 PM and 31°C at 11 PM |
| Rain chance | 0% |
| Humidity | 57% |
| Wind | 14 km/h |
There is no rain in the forecast, so a full 20-over match is expected. It will be about 33°C around the start and fall only to around 31°C by 11 PM, so the night stays warm and the players will feel the heat. Humidity of 57% could bring some moisture late in the match, although this is not confirmed, and a wind of 14 km/h should not affect play much.
Also Read: AFG vs ZIM 1st T20I Live Streaming
Sharjah Cricket Stadium T20 Records and Stats
| Record | Details |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 75 |
| Won batting first | 44 |
| Won bowling first | 31 |
| Average first-innings score | 145 |
| Average second-innings score | 123 |
| Highest total | 215/6 (20 overs) by Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe |
| Lowest total | 38/10 (10.4 overs) by Hong Kong vs Pakistan |
| Highest score chased | 206/8 (19.5 overs) by UAE vs Bangladesh |
| Lowest score defended | 119/7 (20 overs) by Bangladesh Women vs Scotland Women |
| Afghanistan’s record at the venue | To be confirmed |
| Zimbabwe’s record at the venue | To be confirmed |
The ground has a capacity of 16,000 and hosts the United Arab Emirates.
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AFG vs ZIM T20I Head-to-Head
| Matches | Afghanistan Won | Zimbabwe Won | Tie or No Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 19 | 2 | 0 |
What Should the Captains Do at Sharjah Cricket Stadium?
Bat first if the toss is won. Batting first has won 44 of 75 T20s here against 31 for bowling first, and the first-innings average of 145 is well above the second-innings average of 123. The surface is slow, so a score of 150 or more can put the chasing side under pressure, although a 206-run chase here shows that a big target is not safe. Use the new ball well in the powerplay, because early wickets put the batting side under pressure. Use spin in the middle overs to slow the scoring, as both sides have quality spinners in Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Sikandar Raza. Keep the death bowling tight, and plan for the heat, which can wear players down late in the match.
Also Read: AFG vs ZIM 1st T20I 2026 List of Umpires
