The Zimbabwe cricket team toured the United Arab Emirates in March 2021 to play two Test and three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches against Afghanistan.[1][2] It was the first time the two teams had played a Test match against each other.[3] Ahmed Shah Pakteen was named as the on-field umpire for both Tests, becoming the first Afghan umpire to officiate in Test cricket.[4]
| Zimbabwe against Afghanistan in the UAE in 2020–21 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Afghanistan | Zimbabwe | ||
| Dates | 2 – 20 March 2021 | ||
| Captains | Asghar Afghan | Sean Williams | |
| Test series | |||
| Result | 2-match series drawn 1–1 | ||
| Most runs | Hashmatullah Shahidi (215) | Sean Williams (264) | |
| Most wickets | Rashid Khan (11) | Blessing Muzarabani (8) | |
| Player of the series | Sean Williams (Zim) | ||
| Twenty20 International series | |||
| Results | Afghanistan won the 3-match series 3–0 | ||
| Most runs | Rahmanullah Gurbaz (114) | Ryan Burl (81) | |
| Most wickets | Rashid Khan (6) | Blessing Muzarabani (6) | |
| Player of the series | Karim Janat (Afg) | ||
Originally, the series was scheduled to be played in Oman.[5] In January 2021, the International Cricket Council (ICC) gave accreditation for the Ministry Turf 1 at the Al Amerat Cricket Stadium in Muscat to host Test cricket.[6][7] However, in February 2021, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed that the series would take place in the UAE.[8] The series was initially in doubt due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[9] however in late January 2021, Zimbabwe's Sports and Recreation Commission gave its approval for the tour to go ahead.[10] On 12 February 2021, the ACB announced the tour schedule.[11]
Zimbabwe won the first Test inside two days by ten wickets, with captain Sean Williams scoring a century in their first innings.[12] Zimbabwe last won a Test match in November 2018, when they beat Bangladesh.[13] Afghanistan won the second Test match by six wickets to draw the series 1–1,[14] with Hashmatullah Shahidi becoming the first batsman for Afghanistan to score a double century in Test cricket.[15]
Afghanistan won the first two T20I matches, by 48 and 45 runs, respectively, to win the series with a game to spare.[16] Afghanistan won the third and final match by 47 runs, with Asghar Afghan becoming the most successful captain in men's T20I cricket.[17]
Squads
| Tests | T20Is | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan[18] |  Zimbabwe[19] | Afghanistan[20] | Zimbabwe[21] |
Afghanistan also named Zahir Khan and Abdul Wasi as reserve players for the Test matches.[22] Chamu Chibhabha, Zimbabwe's limited overs captain, did not travel for the T20I matches due to an injury.[23] The Afghanistan Cricket Board also confirmed that Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Hamid Hassan, Gulbadin Naib, Waqar Salamkheil, Azmatullah Omarzai could join the T20I squad once their visa issues had been resolved.[24]
Tour match
Test series
1st Test
v | ||
17/0 (3.2 overs) Kevin Kasuza 11* (12) |
- Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat.
- Munir Ahmad, Abdul Malik, Abdul Wasi (Afg) and Wesley Madhevere (Zim) all made their Test debuts.
- Ahmed Shah Pakteen (Afg) stood in his first Test as an umpire.[25]
- Blessing Muzarabani became the first bowler for Zimbabwe to take a wicket with the first ball of a Test.[26]
- Abdul Malik became the first batsman for Afghanistan to be dismissed for a pair in Tests.[27]
2nd Test
10–14 March 2021 Scorecard |
v | ||
- Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat.
- Shahidullah and Sayed Shirzad (Afg) both made their Test debuts.
- Asghar Afghan (Afg) scored his first century in Tests.[28]
- Hashmatullah Shahidi scored his first Test century,[29] and became the first batsman for Afghanistan to score a double century in Tests.[30]
T20I series
1st T20I
v | ||
- Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field.
- Asghar Afghan played in his 50th T20I as a captain of Afghanistan.[31]
2nd T20I
3rd T20I
v | ||
- Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat.
- Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afg) made his T20I debut.
- Aleem Dar (Pak) became the first on-field umpire to stand in 400 matches in international cricket.[33]