🏏 Pakistan’s T20I Tri-Series Twist: Zimbabwe Replaces Afghanistan in Lahore Showdown | Cricketory Exclusive
🇵🇰 Tri-Series Drama: Zimbabwe Steps In for Afghanistan
Pakistan’s cricket summer just got spicier — and far more interesting.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially confirmed that Zimbabwe will replace Afghanistan in the upcoming T20I Tri-Series 2025, also featuring Sri Lanka.
The tournament, starting November 17, will mark Pakistan’s first T20I tri-series on home soil in over a decade — a landmark event in the nation’s cricket revival.
The tri-series is not just about entertainment; it’s designed as crucial preparation for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, expected to be held in February-March next year.
🏟️ Where the Action Unfolds: Rawalpindi & Lahore
The tri-series will kick off at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where Pakistan will face Zimbabwe in the opening encounter on November 17.
The venue will also host Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe on November 19, before the action moves to Lahore’s iconic Gaddafi Stadium.
The remaining five matches, including the grand final on November 29, will all take place in Lahore — a move aimed at maximizing crowd attendance and ensuring smooth logistics.
🗓️ T20I Tri-Series 2025 Schedule (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe)
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 17 | Pakistan 🆚 Zimbabwe | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
| Nov 19 | Sri Lanka 🆚 Zimbabwe | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
| Nov 22 | Pakistan 🆚 Sri Lanka | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Nov 23 | Pakistan 🆚 Zimbabwe | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Nov 25 | Sri Lanka 🆚 Zimbabwe | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Nov 27 | Pakistan 🆚 Sri Lanka | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Nov 29 | 🏆 Final | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
🔄 Why Zimbabwe Replaced Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s sudden withdrawal from the tri-series due to scheduling and logistical challenges left the PCB scrambling for a replacement.
Enter Zimbabwe, who accepted the invitation within hours of PCB’s outreach.
The Zimbabwe Cricket Board (ZC) confirmed its participation, describing the tour as a "golden opportunity to prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup".
From a cricketing standpoint, this substitution is a blessing in disguise.
While Afghanistan’s exit disappointed some fans, Zimbabwe’s inclusion adds a new narrative of unpredictability, given their recent resurgence in T20 cricket.
🦓 Zimbabwe’s Return to Pakistani Soil: A Historical Context
Zimbabwe and Pakistan share a special cricketing relationship.
In 2015, Zimbabwe became the first international team to tour Pakistan after the 2009 Lahore attack — an act of courage that reopened the gates of international cricket in the country.
Now, a decade later, Zimbabwe returns not as visitors, but as vital contenders in a competitive tri-series, representing their growing ambitions in world cricket.
Their participation symbolizes trust and cricket diplomacy — two elements that the PCB has been working tirelessly to build through consistent hosting of safe, world-class events.
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka’s Challenge: A Familiar Foe
For Pakistan, Sri Lanka has been both a friendly rival and a testing opponent.
The Lions have traditionally performed well in subcontinental conditions and are likely to enter this tri-series with a mix of youth and experience, especially with Wanindu Hasaranga, Pathum Nissanka, and Kusal Mendis expected to feature.
Sri Lanka’s participation makes the tournament highly competitive — particularly given their success in the Asia Cup formats and their knack for adapting to Pakistan’s pitches.
⚡ Pakistan’s Busy Schedule Before the Tri-Series
Before the tri-series even begins, Pakistan will wrap up a full all-format series against South Africa, comprising:
- 2️⃣ Test matches
- 3️⃣ ODIs
- 3️⃣ T20Is
That tour concludes on November 8, leaving the players with barely a week’s gap before the tri-series opener in Rawalpindi.
Cricketory experts believe this tight scheduling could test player endurance and squad rotation policies, but it also offers valuable momentum heading into the T20I tournament.
💪 What This Series Means for Pakistan Cricket
The tri-series isn’t just another fixture; it’s a strategic rehearsal for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Here’s why it’s important:
- 🧠 Testing New Combinations: Pakistan’s selectors want to finalize their best T20 batting order and bowling rotation.
- 🧩 Evaluating All-Rounders: Players like Shadab Khan, Agha Salman, and Aamer Jamal are being closely monitored for multi-role effectiveness.
- 🧱 Rebuilding Confidence: After a tough Asia Cup final loss to India, Pakistan aims to regain psychological control in high-pressure games.
Cricketory analysis shows that Pakistan’s win percentage in home T20Is (since 2022) stands at 72%, highlighting the team’s comfort playing under local conditions.
🧠 Cricketory Insights: The Strategy Behind the Series
🏏 1️⃣ Batting Depth Experiment
Expect Pakistan to experiment with power-hitters like Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, and possibly the return of Babar Azam in a new T20 role.
Mike Hesson, Pakistan’s white-ball coach, is keen to create flexibility in the top order to balance aggression and stability.
🎯 2️⃣ Bowling Combination Reset
With Shaheen Shah Afridi leading the pace attack and Abrar Ahmed likely to play a key spin role, Pakistan could test different death bowling combinations, possibly reintroducing Haris Rauf if fit.
Cricketory’s predictive data suggests Pakistan’s best bowling economy pairing in home T20s comes from Shaheen + Shadab, averaging 6.9 runs per over in tandem.
📊 3️⃣ Zimbabwe’s Game Plan
Zimbabwe is expected to approach this series as a growth and exposure opportunity.
With stars like Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, and Luke Jongwe, the team possesses explosive middle-order potential.
Their recent performances against Ireland and Namibia show marked improvement in death-over batting and better powerplay utilization.
Cricketory’s analytical projection gives Zimbabwe a 35% upset probability in each match — higher than their past away-series metrics.
🔥 4️⃣ Sri Lanka’s Tactical Edge
Sri Lanka will rely on their spin-oriented strategy, especially given Lahore’s spin-friendly pitches.
Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana could be decisive in the middle overs, while Matheesa Pathirana’s yorkers add late-innings venom.
Cricketory predicts Sri Lanka’s bowling efficiency in Asian T20s could challenge Pakistan’s top-heavy batting lineup — setting the stage for thrilling duels.
🧩 Possible Pakistan Squad for the Tri-Series (Predicted by Cricketory)
- Farhan
- Usman Khan (WK)
- Saim Ayub
- Agha Salman (C)
- Hassan Nawaz
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Fakhar Zaman
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Haris Rauf
- Naseem Shah
- Abrar Ahmed
- Sufyan
- Mohammad Haris
- Faheem Ashraf
Cricketory’s data model ranks this lineup’s expected win probability at 68% per match on home soil.
💬 PCB’s Perspective: Building for the Future
The PCB’s decision to host a tri-series reflects its broader vision — reviving Pakistan as a global cricket destination and strengthening bilateral ties.
By replacing Afghanistan promptly, the board showcased administrative agility.
The move also ensures Pakistan’s team remains match-ready for upcoming global events, while giving younger players exposure against two contrasting teams: Zimbabwe’s enthusiasm and Sri Lanka’s discipline.
🌍 Cricketory Analysis: What This Means for Global Cricket
This tri-series sends a strong signal to the world:
- Pakistan is ready and capable of hosting multi-team international events.
- Associate and mid-tier nations like Zimbabwe are being reintegrated into competitive cycles.
- The tri-series format, often underused, offers ideal short-format preparation.
With the T20 World Cup 2026 just months away, expect this series to influence squad selections, ranking movements, and strategic blueprints across all three teams.
🔮 Cricketory Predictions: Who Wins the Tri-Series?
Using our data-driven match simulation model, Cricketory forecasts:
| Team | Win Probability | X-Factor Player |
|---|---|---|
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 62% | Salman Agha |
| 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 28% | Wanindu Hasaranga |
| 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | 10% | Sikandar Raza |
Pakistan’s familiarity with home conditions and depth across formats make them favorites, but Sri Lanka’s spin trio could turn the tide in crunch matches.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
🏏 Q1: Why did Afghanistan withdraw from the tri-series?
A: Afghanistan withdrew due to scheduling and logistical conflicts, but the PCB confirmed that the event will proceed as planned with Zimbabwe stepping in.
🌍 Q2: When does the Pakistan tri-series start?
A: The tri-series starts on November 17, 2025, with the opening match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi.
🏟️ Q3: Which venues are hosting the matches?
A: The first two matches are in Rawalpindi, while the remaining five — including the final on November 29 — will take place at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
🦓 Q4: How strong is Zimbabwe’s T20 squad?
A: Zimbabwe’s side, led by Sikandar Raza, has evolved into a competitive T20 outfit with a strong middle order and dynamic all-rounders.
💬 Q5: What’s the purpose of this tri-series?
A: The tri-series serves as preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, allowing teams to test combinations and strategies in Asian conditions.
🧠 Q6: Will Pakistan rest senior players?
A: With a packed schedule before the series, Pakistan may rotate bowlers and test bench strength, especially with the World Cup approaching.
🔥 Q7: Who is the favorite to win the tri-series?
A: According to Cricketory analysis, Pakistan holds the edge due to home conditions, but Sri Lanka’s spin attack could pose a serious challenge.
🏁 Conclusion: A New Chapter in Pakistan’s Cricket Revival
The Pakistan–Sri Lanka–Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series represents more than just cricket matches — it’s a symbol of Pakistan’s resurgence as a global cricket host and a celebration of its ability to deliver thrilling, competitive tournaments.
From Babar’s brilliance to Raza’s defiance and Hasaranga’s magic, fans are set for twelve days of electrifying cricket across Rawalpindi and Lahore.
As Cricketory’s analysis suggests — this isn’t just preparation; it’s a preview of Pakistan’s T20 dominance ahead of the 2026 World Cup.