Match: 1st T20I, Pakistan T20I Tri-Series 2025
Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM (Local Time) | 6:30 PM (IST)
Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Toss: To be announced
Tournament Overview
The Pakistan T20I Tri-Series 2025 begins today with an exciting clash between Pakistan and Zimbabwe. This seven-match tournament also includes Sri Lanka and will serve as important preparation for all three teams ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Originally, Afghanistan was set to participate, but they withdrew due to political tensions, and Zimbabwe stepped in as their replacement.
All matches in this series will be played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium after the Pakistan Cricket Board moved the entire tournament from multiple venues due to security concerns following recent events in Islamabad.
Expected Playing XIs
Pakistan (Likely XI)
Source: Cricket Addictor, various cricket websites
- Fakhar Zaman
- Saim Ayub
- Babar Azam
- Salman Ali Agha (c)
- Usman Khan (wk)
- Faheem Ashraf
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Naseem Shah
- Abrar Ahmed
- Mohammad Wasim
Note: The final playing XI has not been officially confirmed. This is based on squad analysis from recent reports.
Zimbabwe (Likely XI)
Source: Cricket Addictor
- Brian Bennett
- Dion Myers
- Sikandar Raza (c)
- Brendan Taylor
- Ryan Burl
- Clive Madande (wk)
- Wellington Masakadza
- Brad Evans
- Richard Ngarava
- Tinotenda Maposa
- Newman Nyamhuri
Players to Watch
| Role | Pakistan | Zimbabwe |
|---|---|---|
| Star Batter | Babar Azam – Recently scored a century against Sri Lanka and returns to T20Is in excellent form | Sikandar Raza – Captain and key allrounder who can change the game with bat and ball |
| Opening Batter | Sahibzada Farhan – Showed promise in recent matches and can provide explosive starts | Brian Bennett – Young talent who performed well in recent series |
| Key Allrounder | Salman Ali Agha – Captain who scored a century against Sri Lanka in ODIs | Ryan Burl – Experienced player who can contribute in both departments |
| Lead Pacer | Shaheen Shah Afridi – Took 14 wickets in his last nine matches and leads Pakistan’s bowling | Richard Ngarava – Must shoulder extra responsibility without Muzarabani |
| Spin Option | Abrar Ahmed – Key spinner in Pakistan’s attack on home conditions | Wellington Masakadza – Will play a crucial role in the middle overs |
Pitch Report
The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch is known for being batting-friendly. Here’s what to expect:
- For Batters: The surface offers excellent batting conditions with even pace and bounce. Batters can score freely once they settle in.
- For Pacers: Fast bowlers might get some early movement with the new ball, but the pitch generally doesn’t offer much help.
- For Spinners: Spinners can get some turn, especially as the game progresses and the pitch slows down slightly.
- Expected Score: A par score is around 180-190 runs in the first innings.
- Toss Factor: Teams winning the toss may prefer to bat first to post a big total on this flat surface.
Weather Report
Weather Conditions for November 18, 2025:
- Temperature: Around 23°C
- Rain Chance: 0% – No chance of rain
- Humidity: 41%
- Wind Speed: Around 5 km/h
- Conditions: Partly sunny, ideal for cricket
The weather looks perfect for an uninterrupted match.
Head-to-Head Record
Overall T20I Record:
- Matches Played: 21
- Pakistan Wins: 18
- Zimbabwe Wins: 3
At Rawalpindi Cricket Ground:
- Pakistan has won all 3 T20I matches played against Zimbabwe at this venue.
Recent Form (Last 5 T20Is):
- Pakistan Wins: 3
- Zimbabwe Wins: 2
While Pakistan dominates historically, Zimbabwe has shown they can compete in recent years.
Team Form
Pakistan
Pakistan enters this series with excellent momentum. They recently completed a 3-0 whitewash over Sri Lanka in ODIs and won both T20I and ODI series against South Africa at home. Babar Azam’s return to form with a century against Sri Lanka will boost the team’s confidence. Captain Salman Ali Agha is also in great touch after scoring a century in the recent ODI series.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe qualified for the T20 World Cup 2026 through strong performances in the Africa qualifiers. However, they lost their recent T20I series 3-0 against Afghanistan at home, which will be a concern. The absence of Blessing Muzarabani weakens their pace attack, but players like Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, and Brian Bennett are capable of delivering match-winning performances.
What to Expect
This match promises to be an exciting start to the tri-series. Pakistan will be heavy favorites playing at home with strong batting and one of the world’s best T20I bowling attacks. Babar Azam’s return to T20Is adds star power to their lineup.
Zimbabwe will need their experienced players like Sikandar Raza and Brendan Taylor to step up against Pakistan’s quality attack. Their young openers, Brian Bennett and Dion Myers, must provide solid starts to give the middle order a platform.
The batting-friendly Rawalpindi pitch means we could see a high-scoring match, with both teams looking to put runs on the board. Pakistan’s depth in both batting and bowling should give them the edge, but Zimbabwe has the talent to surprise if their key players perform.
Match Prediction
Winner: Pakistan
Pakistan’s recent form, home advantage, and superior head-to-head record make them strong favorites. They have won all three T20I matches at Rawalpindi against Zimbabwe and possess one of the best bowling attacks in world cricket. With Babar Azam returning to T20Is in great form and Salman Ali Agha leading confidently, Pakistan should start the tri-series with a win.
However, cricket can be unpredictable, and Zimbabwe has proven they can compete with better teams. If Sikandar Raza has a big day and their bowlers execute their plans well, they could spring an upset.