KEY POINTS
- Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe will compete in a seven-match T20I tri-series.
- Each team will play four league matches before the top two sides meet in the final.
- Pakistan entered the event with strong momentum after recent series wins against South Africa, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: Pakistan is set to host its first-ever T20I tri-nation series, featuring Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 18 to 29 November.
The historic seven-match event marks a significant milestone for Pakistan cricket, bringing multi-nation T20I competition to home soil for the very first time.
Under the tournament format, each team will contest four league matches, with the top two sides progressing to the final on Saturday, 29 November. All matches will begin at 6:00pm PST, with the toss scheduled for 5:30pm.
The hosts, led by T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, head into the tri-series with impressive recent performances.
Earlier this year, Pakistan reached the final of the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup in the UAE, followed by a 2-1 T20I series win over South Africa at home. They also recorded a 3-0 T20I sweep of Bangladesh in Lahore.
In their latest international assignments, Pakistan completed a full bilateral series against South Africa, drawing the Test series 1-1, winning the ODI series 2-1 in Faisalabad, and delivering a 3-0 clean sweep against Sri Lanka in the ODI series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Salman Ali Agha confident ahead of home tri-series
Speaking ahead of the event, captain Salman Ali Agha expressed optimism saying, “The tri-series comes at an ideal time for us.
It allows the group to play consistent cricket against two competitive sides and further refine our T20I plans ahead of the all-important ICC Men’s T20 World Cup next year.
We have produced encouraging performances in recent months, winning the tri-series in Sharjah, qualifying for the Asia Cup final and winning white-ball series against South Africa and Sri Lanka.
The team showed excellent discipline in the ODI series against Sri Lanka and we look forward to carrying that momentum into this tournament.
We have seen great support for the home side from the Rawalpindi fans, and we are expecting quality contests throughout the series.”
Pakistan’s 15-member T20I squad
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicket-keeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicket-keeper), Usman Tariq
Tri-series schedule
18 November – Pakistan vs Zimbabwe
20 November – Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe
22 November – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka
23 November – Pakistan vs Zimbabwe
25 November – Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe
27 November – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka
29 November – Final
