| Series Name: | Zimbabwe against Afghanistan in the UAE in 2020–21 |
| Team1 Image: | Flag of Afghanistan (2013–2021).svg |
| Team1 Name: | Afghanistan |
| Team2 Image: | Flag of Zimbabwe.svg |
| Team2 Name: | Zimbabwe |
| From Date: | 2 |
| To Date: | 20 March 2021 |
| Team1 Captain: | Asghar Afghan |
| Team2 Captain: | Sean Williams |
| No Of Tests: | 2 |
| Team1 Tests Won: | 1 |
| Team2 Tests Won: | 1 |
| Team1 Tests Most Runs: | Hashmatullah Shahidi (215) |
| Team2 Tests Most Runs: | Sean Williams (264) |
| Team1 Tests Most Wickets: | Rashid Khan (11) |
| Team2 Tests Most Wickets: | Blessing Muzarabani (8) |
| Player Of Test Series: | Sean Williams (Zim) |
| No Of Twenty20s: | 3 |
| Team1 Twenty20s Won: | 3 |
| Team2 Twenty20s Won: | 0 |
| Team1 Twenty20s Most Runs: | Rahmanullah Gurbaz (114) |
| Team2 Twenty20s Most Runs: | Ryan Burl (81) |
| Team1 Twenty20s Most Wickets: | Rashid Khan (6) |
| Team2 Twenty20s Most Wickets: | Blessing Muzarabani (6) |
| Player Of Twenty20 Series: | Karim Janat (Afg) |
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]
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]
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]