Afghanistan to Host Bangladesh, Zimbabwe Tri-Series in UAE: Full Schedule, Dates and Matches
Afghanistan cricket is set for a packed few months, with the team preparing for a hectic international calendar across multiple formats. After their upcoming T20I series against India, Afghanistan will turn its attention to a major multi-format assignment involving Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in the United Arab Emirates.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has officially confirmed that Afghanistan will host Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in the UAE during October and November 2026. The schedule includes a one-off Test against Bangladesh, an ODI tri-series featuring all three teams, a three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe and, finally, a two-match Test series against Zimbabwe.
In other words, Afghanistan are not exactly getting much time to put their feet up. The next few weeks will bring plenty of cricket, with all three formats on the menu.
Afghanistan’s Busy Cricket Calendar Continues
Afghanistan are currently preparing for their three-match T20I series against India, with all three games scheduled to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17. The series will provide Afghanistan with valuable preparation before the Asian Games.
Once that assignment is completed, Afghanistan will head into another demanding stretch of international cricket.
According to the ACB, the next major assignment begins on October 9, when Afghanistan face Bangladesh in a one-off Test in the UAE. That match will be followed by an ODI tri-series involving Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.
The tri-series will begin on October 17 and conclude with the final on October 23. Each team will play the other once in the league stage before the top two sides battle for the trophy.
Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe Set for ODI Tri-Series
The ODI tri-series could provide some fascinating cricket as Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe look to test their squads ahead of future international commitments.
The opening game will see Bangladesh take on Zimbabwe on October 17. Afghanistan will then enter the competition on October 19 against Zimbabwe before facing Bangladesh on October 21.
The top two teams from the three-match league stage will qualify for the final, scheduled for October 23.
With only three league matches, every game could become important. There will be little room for a team to recover from a poor start, making the competition potentially more intense than the simple three-team format suggests.
For Afghanistan, playing at a familiar UAE base could also provide an advantage. The country has frequently used the UAE as a home venue because of the limited availability of international cricket facilities in Afghanistan.
Why Is Afghanistan Playing Its Home Series in the UAE?
Afghanistan have often hosted international matches outside their home country, and the UAE has become an important part of their cricketing journey.
The latest schedule once again sees the UAE serve as Afghanistan’s home venue.
The ACB has confirmed the UAE as the venue for the entire October-November programme, although individual stadiums have not been announced yet.
That means fans will have to wait for confirmation regarding the exact grounds where the matches will take place.
For Afghanistan, however, the bigger picture is more important. The team gets a substantial block of international cricket against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe without having to travel between multiple countries.
Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe T20I Series
After the ODI tri-series final, Afghanistan will quickly switch gears from 50-over cricket to the shortest format.
Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will play three T20Is, beginning on October 27.
The second T20I will be played on October 29, while the final match of the series is scheduled for November 1.
The short turnaround means players will have to adapt quickly from ODI cricket to T20 cricket. For Afghanistan, this will be another opportunity to assess their T20 options and give their players valuable international experience.
The T20I series is also likely to attract plenty of attention because both Afghanistan and Zimbabwe have developed competitive white-ball teams in recent years.
Two-Test Series to Finish the Tour
Just when it looks like the schedule is winding down, there is another major assignment.
Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will meet in a two-match Test series in November.
The first Test is scheduled from November 5 to November 9, followed by the second Test from November 13 to November 17.
This will give Afghanistan a rare opportunity to play consecutive Test matches against a competitive opponent.
Test cricket remains particularly important for Afghanistan as the team continues to build its presence in the longest format. The ACB has also highlighted the value of regular Test opportunities for the national side.
For Zimbabwe, the series will offer another chance to compete in Test cricket and challenge Afghanistan across five days.
Complete Afghanistan vs Bangladesh and Zimbabwe Schedule
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, One-off Test | October 9-13, 2026 | UAE |
| Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe, 1st ODI | October 17, 2026 | UAE |
| Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd ODI | October 19, 2026 | UAE |
| Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, 3rd ODI | October 21, 2026 | UAE |
| Tri-Series Final | October 23, 2026 | UAE |
| Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 1st T20I | October 27, 2026 | UAE |
| Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I | October 29, 2026 | UAE |
| Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 3rd T20I | November 1, 2026 | UAE |
| Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 1st Test | November 5-9, 2026 | UAE |
| Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 2nd Test | November 13-17, 2026 | UAE |
The schedule has been officially confirmed by the Afghanistan Cricket Board.
A Big Test for Afghanistan’s Multi-Format Depth
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the schedule is its variety.
Afghanistan will be required to move from Test cricket to ODIs, then T20Is and back to Test cricket within a relatively short period.
That will test the team’s depth, fitness and ability to adapt between formats.
Afghanistan have already established themselves as a dangerous T20 side, particularly with players such as Rashid Khan and other talented white-ball cricketers. However, building consistency in Test cricket remains a different challenge altogether.
The upcoming Bangladesh and Zimbabwe assignments could therefore be important beyond the results themselves.
They could help Afghanistan identify players capable of succeeding across formats while also providing valuable international experience to younger members of the squad.
What Makes This Schedule Important?
The sheer number of matches makes this one of Afghanistan’s more significant home programmes.
The team will play 10 matches across three formats during the October-November window: one Test against Bangladesh, four ODI matches including the tri-series final, three T20Is against Zimbabwe and two Tests against Zimbabwe.
It is a demanding schedule, but also an excellent opportunity.
Bangladesh will provide a strong challenge in both the Test and ODI format, while Zimbabwe will face Afghanistan across ODIs, T20Is and Tests.
For cricket fans, that means plenty of Afghanistan cricket action over several weeks.
And with the UAE acting as the stage, the tournament could become an important chapter in Afghanistan’s growing international cricket story.
