Afghanistan Backed to Challenge for UAE Tri-Series Title as Captains Weigh the Odds
Afghanistan captain Rahmat Shah believes his team has a valuable edge ahead of the upcoming cricket tri-series in the United Arab Emirates, pointing to its experience playing in familiar conditions. Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe will compete in the tournament, which begins in Abu Dhabi on October 17, with the teams aiming to secure a place in the final.
Rahmat stopped short of dismissing either rival, but said Afghanistan’s regular cricket in the UAE could make a difference across the competition. The side has played many of its matches in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, giving its players a strong understanding of local pitches, weather and match conditions.
“I think Afghanistan would be the favourite team here because we’ve been playing all our games in the UAE, and the majority of the games in Abu Dhabi or Sharjah,” Rahmat told reporters. “I think we have more advantages considering the home conditions here.”
His comments set up an intriguing debate around the tournament’s cricket prediction. Familiarity may give Afghanistan a head start, but a short three-team competition can quickly change direction. One defeat can affect a side’s points position and net run rate, making every match important from the opening day.
Test Comeback Provides Afghanistan with Confidence
Afghanistan will enter the one-day international contest encouraged by its recent Test against Bangladesh, which ended in a draw after the team recovered from a difficult position. Rahmat described the result as a significant achievement, crediting the batters for showing patience and resilience during the closing stages.
Bangladesh had held the upper hand for much of the match, but Afghanistan’s players responded with a determined effort over the final day and a half. Rahmat also highlighted the challenging heat, which added to the physical demands on the players as they worked to keep the match alive.
“It was one of the historic games, from where we fought back,” he said. “We were struggling in between, and then, in the last one and a half days, the way the batters batted, credit goes to all the boys, especially the batters who batted well throughout.”
For Afghanistan, the draw was more than a result on the scoreboard. It offered evidence that the team can remain composed under pressure and recover when a match appears to be slipping away. Rahmat said that resilience should provide a useful lift as the players switch formats and prepare for the faster pace of ODI cricket.
“To bounce back and end up with a draw is a great achievement,” he said, adding that the performance would give the squad “a good boost and confidence” ahead of the one-day games.
Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi Return
Afghanistan’s prospects are also strengthened by the return of experienced all-rounder Mohammad Nabi and star leg-spinner Rashid Khan. Rashid was rested for the Test against Bangladesh as part of workload management, but both players are expected to bring significant experience and skill to the ODI squad.
Rahmat called the pair world-class performers and stressed how important they are to Afghanistan’s balance. Rashid, in particular, has often been a decisive figure in the team’s success, using his variations and control to challenge batters in different phases of an innings. Nabi’s experience and versatility add another dependable option with both bat and ball.
“Both the players, Nabi and Rashid, are world-class players and they have proved it to everyone,” Rahmat said. He added that Afghanistan had missed Rashid during the Test, but welcomed the advantage of having both stars available for the ODI series.
Their return could be especially valuable in UAE conditions, where teams often need bowlers who can adapt quickly to surfaces that may be slow or offer assistance to spin. Rashid’s ability to take wickets in the middle overs and Nabi’s experience in managing different match situations could help Afghanistan control the tempo of games.
Zimbabwe See an Advantage—but No Certain Favourite
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza agreed that Afghanistan’s familiarity with the UAE gives the hosts a practical advantage. Zimbabwe had arrived only two days before the media briefing and completed two training sessions, leaving the squad with limited time to adjust to the environment.
Raza nevertheless cautioned against treating Afghanistan as a guaranteed winner. In his view, preparation and performance on match day will matter more than pre-tournament expectations, and all three teams have a credible route to the title.
“I always think that the home side always has that extra advantage, and rightly so, because Afghanistan has played a lot of cricket in these conditions,” Raza said. But he added that any team playing good cricket would have a strong chance of winning.
That assessment reflects the uncertainty built into a compact tri-series. Afghanistan may know the venues best, while Bangladesh bring recent experience against the hosts and Zimbabwe will look to make the most of its own strengths. A strong start, efficient use of bowling resources and careful management of net run rate could prove just as important as familiarity with the ground.
Bangladesh Captain Highlights Tri-Series Pressure
Bangladesh captain Litton Kumar Das pointed to the unusual pressure of a three-team tournament, where there is little room to recover from a poor opening. Unlike a bilateral series, where a team can respond to an early loss by winning the next match and forcing a decider, a tri-series places qualification calculations in the foreground.
With every side chasing a place in the final, a defeat can leave a team needing not only victories but also favourable results elsewhere. Net run rate can become a key factor, particularly if teams finish level on points. That makes the margin of victory—or defeat—potentially significant throughout the round-robin stage.
Litton said his experience of tri-series cricket was limited, but he recognised the added pressure. Losing the first match, he noted, can put a team on the back foot immediately, while net run rate adds another layer to the competition.
For fans following the tournament, the most reliable cricket prediction may be that the contest will remain open until late in the group stage. Afghanistan’s familiarity with UAE conditions and the return of Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi make the side a strong contender. Yet Bangladesh’s recent Test performance and Zimbabwe’s confidence that all three teams can compete ensure the title race is far from settled. In a format where one result can reshape the standings, execution under pressure will ultimately decide who reaches the final.
