Afghanistan to play against Zimbawe at UAE

Afghanistan Cricket Board announced that they will play a two-match Twenty20 International series followed by a five-game One-Day International rubber against Zimbabwe in Sharjah (UAE) in February next year. Both the boards are also looking at playing a Test match after the completion of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in March, 2018.

The two sides will lock horns in the two-match T20I series on February 5 and 6 respectively. The first of the five ODIs will take place on February 9. The next four games are slated to be held on February 11, 13, 16 and 19. Sharjah will host all the seven matches of Zimbabwe's short tour.

"Two T20Is and five-match ODI series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium will give both sides a valuable opportunity to face each other and play competitive cricket ahead of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in March. Both sides have played closely fought series in the past and this will again ensure that cricket fans witness some great cricket between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe," Afghanistan Cricket Board's chairman Shukrullah Atif Mashal said.

"We have in recent times enjoyed riveting cricket series between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan and we believe the upcoming ODI and T20I matches will be no different. For us, the Afghanistan tour will be very important because, as a team that has not played a great deal of limited-overs cricket over the last couple of years, the series will present a great opportunity for our side to try and gel together as a unit before the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 which will be staged in Zimbabwe," Zimbabwe Cricket spokesperson Darlington Majonga noted.

Afghanistan have emerged triumphant by an identical 3-2 margin in the last three ODI series they have played versus Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe and Afghanistan have played against each other in two bilateral T20I series so far, with the Asian country emerging victorious in both those rubbers with a 2-0 margin.

Schedule:

1st T20I - February 5, 2018

2nd T20I - February 6

1st ODI - February 9

2nd ODI - February 11

3rd ODI - February 13

4th ODI - February 16

5th ODI - February 19

Source: Cricbuzz