Key Points
- Matches will be held at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, with the final on November 29.
- The tri-series serves as preparation for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with Pakistan currently engaged in a series against South Africa.
LAHORE: Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has accepted the invitation to replace Afghanistan in the upcoming T20I tri-series in Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Saturday.
The tri-series, the first of its kind to be held on Pakistani soil, will feature hosts Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe. It aims to provide all three teams with valuable preparation ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, tentatively scheduled for February-March next year.
The tri-nation tournament will kick off on November 17 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium with Pakistan facing Zimbabwe. Rawalpindi will also host the second match between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka on November 19.
Following these fixtures, the series will move to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, where the remaining five matches will be played, including the final scheduled for November 29.
The PCB confirmed the tri-series would proceed as planned despite Afghanistan’s withdrawal, announcing Zimbabwe as their replacement just hours before the schedule was finalised.
Tri-Series T20I Schedule:
November 17 – Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
November 19 – Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
November 22 – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
November 23 – Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
November 25 – Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
November 27 – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
November 29 – Final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Currently, Pakistan is engaged in a comprehensive all-format series against South Africa, featuring two Tests, three One Day Internationals (ODIs), and three T20Is, which will continue until November 8.
The upcoming tri-series will mark Pakistan’s first appearance in the T20 format since their narrow five-wicket loss to arch-rivals India in the final of the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025.
This event offers Pakistan a crucial platform to fine-tune their squad and strategies ahead of the global T20 tournament next year.
