Afghanistan v Zimbabwe in the UAE (5 ODIs, 2 T20Is)

[Sammo360]

All games at Sharjah

ODIs
Fri Dec 25 - 22:00 AEDT
Tue Dec 29 - 22:00 AEDT
Sat Jan 2 - 22:00 AEDT
Mon Jan 4 - 22:00 AEDT
Wed Jan 6 - 22:00 AEDT

T20Is
Sat Jan 9 - 03:00 AEDT
Mon Jan 11 - 03:00 AEDT

Afghanistan Squad
Afsar Zazai, Asghar Stanikzai, Dawlat Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Javed Ahmadi, Mohammad Nabi,Mohammad Shahzad, Nawaz Khan, Noor Ali Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Rashid Khan, Rokhan Barakzai, Samiullah Shenwari, Shabir Noori, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Yamin Ahmadzai

Zimbabwe Squad
E Chigumbura*, CJ Chibhabha, TS Chisoro, AG Cremer, CR Ervine, LM Jongwe, N Madziva, H Masakadza, WP Masakadza, PJ Moor, R Mutumbami†, T Muzarabani, T Panyangara, Sikandar Raza, MN Waller

Sean Williams is injured but Masakadza returns.

Shame Zimbabwe can't or will not go to Afghanistan to play cricket. It must really be unsafe.

 

[The_Reaper]

All games at Sharjah

ODIs
Fri Dec 25 - 22:00 AEDT
Tue Dec 29 - 22:00 AEDT
Sat Jan 2 - 22:00 AEDT
Mon Jan 4 - 22:00 AEDT
Wed Jan 6 - 22:00 AEDT

T20Is
Sat Jan 9 - 03:00 AEDT
Mon Jan 11 - 03:00 AEDT

Afghanistan Squad
Afsar Zazai, Asghar Stanikzai, Dawlat Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Javed Ahmadi, Mohammad Nabi,Mohammad Shahzad, Nawaz Khan, Noor Ali Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Rashid Khan, Rokhan Barakzai, Samiullah Shenwari, Shabir Noori, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Yamin Ahmadzai

Zimbabwe Squad
E Chigumbura*, CJ Chibhabha, TS Chisoro, AG Cremer, CR Ervine, LM Jongwe, N Madziva, H Masakadza, WP Masakadza, PJ Moor, R Mutumbami†, T Muzarabani, T Panyangara, Sikandar Raza, MN Waller

Sean Williams is injured but Masakadza returns.

Shame Zimbabwe can't or will not go to Afghanistan to play cricket. It must really be unsafe.

Well yeah. I mean it's Afghanistan

 

[ioppolo]

Zimbabwe not celebrating Christmas with their families?

Afghanistan's top order failing, bar Noor Ali.

 

[Buzzasto DaSilva]

Cremer has bowled beautifully so far- I hope he stays with Zimbabwe and doesn't go down the county route.

 

[Sammo360]

Not going to be an easy chase.

 

[Sammo360]

Zimbabwe can't play spin. Almost as bad as Australia

If Afghanistan are smart, they'll prepare the same pitches for the next 4 ODIs and T20Is.

 

[ioppolo]

Quite amazing considering Zimbabwe have a few spin friendly pitches back home.

 

[Sammo360]

Best highlight is at 36:50. That's how you run someone out!

 

[the universal]

I don't remember the last time I've seen anybody celebrate a run out before actually taking the bails off like Shahzad did then. Quite amusing.

 

[Sammo360]

Afghans have really got it over the Zimbos, especially their keeper. Arrogant run outs and now massive centuries.

Afghans 2-0 up

 

[the universal]

Reckon Afghanistan would've loved to have Shahzad for the WC, but I remembered reading that concerns over his fitness was what lead to him being left out? In any case, he's just about their best batsman. 4 ODI hundreds for a player from an Associate side isn't half bad.

 

[Sammo360]

Zimbabwe again in trouble

 

[the universal]

Pretty emphatic in starting off with two wicket maidens.

 

[t_94]

Reckon Afghanistan would've loved to have Shahzad for the WC, but I remembered reading that concerns over his fitness was what lead to him being left out? In any case, he's just about their best batsman. 4 ODI hundreds for a player from an Associate side isn't half bad.

Great to watch too. Has a fair bit of swagger about him

 

[theyellowsash]

Even though it's only againts Zimbabwe, its great to see a nation like Afghanistan doing so well for a country that has had it so s**t for so long, particularly recently with the wars and terrorism. It just goes to show what the people from that region can do when they get the chance.

 

[krisholio14]

These two should be playing a test series.

 

[Sammo360]

One of those games lol

 

[ioppolo]

58 off 16.1 exactly what I got in my first game on Don Bradman 14.

 

[the universal]

Afghanistan win the 5th match and subsequently the series 3-2, chasing down 249. Nice work and they're now into the top 10 of the ODI rankings.

 

[Sammo360]

Great to watch too. Has a fair bit of swagger about him

Another century last night, this time in T20. Smashed Zimabawe.

Zimbabwe have had a really terrible year. Despite playing more limited overs cricket that any other nation in 2015 , they've dropped to 12th in ODI rankings and 14th in T20.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...eam=9;template=results;type=team;view=results

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...eam=9;template=results;type=team;view=results

Well done to Afghanistan. They deserve to get some cricket matches when teams tour the UAE.

 

[The Speaker]

There should be no doubt that Afghanistan are a better team than Zimbabwe right now.

 

[the universal]

Petition to fly Shahzad over here for the Big Bash next year, please.

 

[Slax]

I still can't believe the ICC hasn't given Afghanistan test status yet, it is an absolute disgrace.

 

[the universal]

Ireland should get it first. Afghanistan have earned ODI/T20 series against higher ranked nations, but at this point in time I would imagine they would struggle in the longer form of the game if they won Test status.

 

[Buzzasto DaSilva]

There isn't the same criticism of Zimbabwe's quota system compared to South Africa. Unfortunately, I think it is really hurting them.