Liam Brickhill

Afghanistan's series win in the ODIs will fill their squad with renewed vigour and belief, and a change in format will place these teams on an even more equal footing

An all-round performance from Afghanistan assured them a place in the history books: their 73-run victory against Zimbabwe meant they took the series 3-2, becoming the first Associate to beat a Full Member in a multi-match ODI bilateral series

Afghanistan have never played a five-match bilateral ODI series before. Now they have the chance to win one, that too against a Full Member

Alistair Campbell has resigned from his position as Zimbabwe Cricket's director of international cricket and commercial affairs

Afghanistan leveled the series against Zimbabwe with a three-wicket win in the fourth one-day international at Queens Sports Club, with Mohammad Shahzad's 80 setting up their pursuit of Zimbabwe's 184

Zimbabwe's six-wicket win in the third ODI wasn't an accurate barometer of their dominance. The match would have been much tighter had Afghanistan made the most of their chances on the field

Richmond Mutumbami's 74 helped Zimbabwe to secure a 2-1 series lead with a six-wicket victory in the third one-day international against Afghanistan at Queens Sports Club

The last time Afghanistan came to Zimbabwe, in 2014, a four-match one-day series was shared 2-2, and indications are that this series could shape up in a similar manner

Mohammad Nabi struck 116 off 121 balls - his first ODI century - to power Afghanistan to a series levelling win in Bulawayo

Such was the ease of their victory over Afghanistan in the opening game that Zimbabwe's cricketers may already be thinking of filling their boots with runs and wickets in the matches to come

Zimbabwe batsman Mark Vermeulen has been banned from all cricket by Zimbabwe Cricket after it emerged that he had engaged in a racist tirade on social media

ZImbabwe's success against Ireland sees them approach a limited-overs series against Afghanistan with confidence high

The third ODI between Ireland and Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club produced another exciting day's cricket, with Ireland scampering home by just two wickets in a low-scoring thriller

Ireland, having already lost the series, will look to shore up their game in the death overs ahead of the four-day match against Zimbabwe A and Namibia tour

An unbeaten century from Craig Ervine guided Zimbabwe to a series win over Ireland in the second one-day international at Harare Sports Club

Zimbabwe will be searching for their first ODI series win at home for more than two years, but they will have to get past an Irish side who have built a reputation for never-say-die cricket

Sikandar Raza produced a fine knock under pressure to guide Zimbabwe to a 1-0 series lead against Ireland in Harare

Ireland have the dual incentive of ODI ranking points and upsetting a Test side on their tour of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe are in unfamiliar territory heading into their short one-day series against Ireland. It is not often that they can reasonably be expected to win a series, but they should have an advantage in home conditions

ESPNcricinfo previews the first one-day international between Zimbabwe and Ireland