Rawalpindi, November 17, 2025 – The highly anticipated Pakistan T20 Tri-Series 2025 kicks off tomorrow as the hosts, Pakistan (PAK), take on Zimbabwe (ZIM) in the opening match. Cricket fans can catch the action live from the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on November 18, 2025, starting at 6:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time (PST).
Key Match Details
| Match | T20 Tri-Series 2025, Match 1 |
| Teams | Pakistan vs. Zimbabwe |
| Date | November 18, 2025 |
| Time | 6:00 PM PST |
| Venue | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi |
The tournament features Pakistan, Zimbabwe, and Sri Lanka competing in a double round-robin format, with the top two teams progressing to the final.
Pakistan: Boosted by Star Returns
Pakistan, coming off a competitive 2-1 T20 series victory over South Africa last month, enters the series with strong momentum. The biggest news is the return of two central figures: star batter Babar Azam and pace spearhead Naseem Shah.
The Green Shirts’ batting lineup looks formidable, featuring the in-form opener Sahibzada Farhan and young talent Saim Ayub, who impressed with two half-centuries against South Africa. Established players like Fakhar Zaman and Salman Agha solidify the middle order.
The bowling unit is spearheaded by the formidable pace and swing of Shaheen Shah Afridi and the returning Naseem Shah. They will rely heavily on the spin of Mohammad Nawaz, who has been the team’s leading wicket-taker.
• Key Players for PAK: Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Zimbabwe: Seeking an Upset
Led by captain Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe faces a tough assignment against the historically dominant Pakistan side. Their recent form is a concern, having suffered a 3-0 clean sweep against Afghanistan in their last T20 series.
Despite the setback, the batting lineup boasts individual talent. The phenomenal form of Brian Bennett, alongside experienced hands like Ryan Burl and Brendan Taylor, will be crucial. They must quickly adapt to the Rawalpindi conditions and find a way to handle Pakistan’s pace barrage.
On the bowling front, the visitors will look to Richard Ngarava for timely breakthroughs, supported by the crucial all-round threat posed by Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl.
• Key Players for ZIM: Sikandar Raza (C), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Richard Ngarava.
Match Prediction: Pakistan Clear Favorites
Pakistan holds a dominant historical record against Zimbabwe in T20s and, with the homecoming of their star players and an already settled core, are the clear favorites to win this opening match.
The battle will likely be decided by how Zimbabwe’s top order handles the early pace barrage from Afridi and Shah. If the visitors’ star batters like Bennett and Raza can fire, an upset is possible, but complacency is the only real threat to the hosts’ winning streak on home soil.