Pakistan vs Zimbabwe 1 T20 Match - Live Cricket Score, Full Scorecard

We are all set for Pakistan's reply. Sahibzada Farhan has walked out with Saim Ayub at the top for Pakistan. Richard Ngarava will bowl the first over of the chase.

…THE RUN CHASE…

Now, with a target of 148 to chase, Pakistan will be confident about kicking off the series with a win. The question remains, can the home side seal the victory, or will Zimbabwe fight back with the ball? We’ll find out shortly. Stay tuned for the second essay.

Zimbabwe's Brian Bennett reflected on their innings, saying they aimed to stay positive and adapt to the conditions. They had a solid Powerplay, but the game changed afterwards. Bennett noted that the spinners got grip post-powerplay, and dew made the ball skid, making it tough. He feels the total's a bit below par, but they're confident in their bowling to defend it and get a win.

Pakistan didn’t get off to the best start with the ball, but they managed to regain control after the drinks break. Mohammad Nawaz was the standout bowler, finishing with impressive figures of 2/22. Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, and Saim Ayub all contributed with a wicket each, while the team also accounted for two run-outs in the Zimbabwe innings.

A resilient comeback from Pakistan in the second half of the innings has restricted Zimbabwe to a modest total of 147/8 in their 20 overs. After being asked to bat first, Zimbabwe made a strong start, with Brian Bennett (49) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (30) putting on 72 for the opening wicket inside the first 8 overs. However, their momentum quickly stalled once Marumani departed, and the wickets began to tumble at regular intervals. The middle order crumbled under pressure from Pakistan’s spinners, who made quick work of the batting lineup. Despite the collapse, captain Sikandar Raza stood firm, anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 34 off 24 balls, and guided Zimbabwe to a competitive total.

Shaheen Afridi to Sikandar Raza, A dot to end the innings. Zimbabwe have posted 147 after 20 overs. Back of the hand, slower one, on off. Sikandar Raza swings and misses again. The batters decide against taking on Usman Khan, who gathers this behind the stumps.

Shaheen Afridi to Sikandar Raza, SIX! JAW-DROPPING! Good length around off, Sikandar Raza shimmies down the track and swings at it. Connects well and clears the long on fence for a huge six. He has picked the bones out of it.

Shaheen Afridi to Sikandar Raza, Full toss, around off, Sikandar Raza stays leg side to it and looks to tonk this down the ground. Raza gets it away off the bottom of his bat and it just lobs behind Salman Agha at mid off for a couple.

Shaheen Afridi to Sikandar Raza, On a length wide of off, Sikandar Raza swings and misses again.

Shaheen Afridi to Sikandar Raza, Cutter, back of a length around off. Sikandar Raza looks to drag this with a pull around mid-wicket but misses.

Shaheen Afridi to Sikandar Raza, FOUR! Just helps it away for four. Shaheen comes round the wicket and bowls a length delivery, angling down the leg. Sikandar Raza gets inside the line of it and just flicks it over short fine leg for a boundary.

Salman Mirza to Sikandar Raza, On a length around off, Sikandar Raza cuts this to deep point for one. Raza will keep strike at the start of the last over.

Salman Mirza to Sikandar Raza, FOUR! Raza lofts this over cover for four. Full and wide of off, Sikandar Raza plants his back foot deep inside the crease and smashes this up and over the fielder at cover for a boundary.

Salman Mirza to Sikandar Raza, WIDE! Full and way outside off, Sikandar Raza leaves it. Wided.

Salman Mirza to Sikandar Raza, Full and wide, angling away from the batter. Sikandar Raza swings and misses. Raza was looking to hit this over cover but fails to get anything on it.

Salman Mirza to Richard Ngarava, On a length on middle and leg, Richard Ngarava rolls this to long on for a single.

Salman Mirza to Tinotenda Maposa, OUT! BOWLED'EM! Zimbabwe slumps further as they lose their 8th wicket with just 128 on the board. Cutter, into the surface, on off, Tinotenda Maposa looks to play across the line and swings for the stands but connects only with thin air. The ball goes past him and shatters the stumps.

Salman Mirza to Tinotenda Maposa, On a length around middle and leg, Tinotenda Maposa thumps this on the bounce to short cover.

Shaheen Afridi to Sikandar Raza, Low full toss, on the pads, Sikandar Raza flicks it through mid-wicket for a couple here.

Shaheen Afridi to Sikandar Raza, Back of a length around off, Sikandar Raza swings and misses.

Shaheen Afridi to Tinotenda Maposa, Full and on the pads, Tinotenda Maposa flicks this to deep mid-wicket for one.

Tinotenda Maposa walks out next.

Shaheen Afridi to Brad Evans, OUT! CAUGHT! Shaheen comes round the wicket, hits the deck hard and bowls it into the batter, cramping him for any sort of room. Brad Evans looks to flick his around mid-wicket again but this time he ends up closing the bat face early and chipping this straight to mid off. Salman Agha settles himself well underneath this and takes it nice and easy.

Shaheen Afridi to Brad Evans, WIDE! On a length, wide down the leg. Brad Evans shuffles across and looks to ramp but misses. Wided.

Shaheen Afridi to Brad Evans, Good length on the pads, Brad Evans goes to flick this around mid-wicket but hits it high on his bat and rolls it back to the bowler.

Shaheen Afridi to Sikandar Raza, Back of a length around off, Sikandar Raza pushes this through cover for one.

Abrar Ahmed to Brad Evans, Short of a length on the pads, Brad Evans dabs this around the keeper's left for no run.

Abrar Ahmed to Sikandar Raza, Fuller down the leg, Sikandar Raza flicks this through square leg for one.

Abrar Ahmed to Brad Evans, Tossed up on the pads, Brad Evans rolls this to long on for one.

Abrar Ahmed to Sikandar Raza, Quicker one, around off, Sikandar Raza dabs this around point and takes one.

Abrar Ahmed to Brad Evans, Fuller, on the pads, Brad Evans pushes this towards the bowlers right for one.

Brad Evans walks out next.

Abrar Ahmed to Tashinga Musekiwa, OUT! TIMBER! Tashinga Musekiwa fails to read a googly from Abrar Ahmed that turns back into the stumps and he is beaten all ends up. The ball sneaks past the batter and rattles the timber behind Musekiwa.

Saim Ayub to Tashinga Musekiwa, Tossed up on middle and off, Tashinga Musekiwa rolls this to long off for a single.

Saim Ayub to Sikandar Raza, Fuller around middle and leg, Sikandar Raza works this in the gap for one.

Saim Ayub to Sikandar Raza, Quicker one, on off, Sikandar Raza blocks.

Saim Ayub to Sikandar Raza, FOUR! As straight as an arrow for four. Fuller, around middle and off, Sikandar Raza stays leg side to it and smashes this up and over the bowler for a boundary towards the sight screen.

Saim Ayub to Tashinga Musekiwa, Tossed up on off, Tashinga Musekiwa pushes this through mid off for one.

Tashinga Musekiwa walks out next.

Saim Ayub to Tony Munyonga, OUT! TONY IS RUN OUT! This is not what the Chevrons wanted at this stage. Fuller, on the pads, Tony Munyonga sweeps it to Salman Mirza at short fine leg and sets off for a single but is sent back by Sikandar Raza. Tony Munyonga is slow to turn and get back inside the crease and is found short of his crease as Usman removes the bails at the striker's end.

Abrar Ahmed to Tony Munyonga, Flighted around off, Tony Munyonga slog it grounded towards deep mid-wicket and takes another single.

Abrar Ahmed to Sikandar Raza, Fuller on off, Sikandar Raza moves away from the stumps and rolls this to long off for one.

Abrar Ahmed to Tony Munyonga, Fuller on the pads, Tony Munyonga hits this to deep mid-wicket for one.

Abrar Ahmed to Sikandar Raza, Short of a length on off, Sikandar Raza goes deep inside the crease and punches this to long on for one.

Abrar Ahmed to Tony Munyonga, Tossed up, on the pads. Tony Munyonga sweeps it to backward square leg for a single.

Abrar Ahmed to Sikandar Raza, Fuller around off, Sikandar Raza smashes this to sweeper cover for a single.

Tony Munyonga walks out next.

Mohammad Nawaz to Ryan Burl, OUT! CAUGHT! Ryan Burl, in the quest to up the ante, perishes. Flighted wide outside off, Ryan Burl steps across and looks to slog sweep this towards the deep mid-wicket region but the ball spins a shade after pitching and Ryan's bat tilts in his hands at the time of contact with the ball. The ball hangs high over Babar Azam at long on and Babar makes no mistake an holds onto it.

Mohammad Nawaz to Ryan Burl, FOUR! Burl connects one well and finds the gap for four. Tossed up, wide of off, Ryan Burl goes down on a knee and smashes this down the ground towards the right of the fielder at long on for a boundary.

Mohammad Nawaz to Sikandar Raza, Pushed through on middle and leg, Sikandar Raza goes deep inside the crease and flicks this through square leg for a single.

Mohammad Nawaz to Ryan Burl, Fuller on off, Ryan Burl drills this to long off for a single.

Mohammad Nawaz to Ryan Burl, Much slower, around off. Ryan Burl steps across and looks to slog this around mid-wicket but misses out.

Mohammad Nawaz to Ryan Burl, Flighted around off, Ryan Burl slaps this to deep cover for a couple.

Saim Ayub to Sikandar Raza, Pushed through on off, Sikandar Raza dabs this to short third for no run.

Saim Ayub to Ryan Burl, Floated around off, Ryan Burl cuts this to backward point for one.

Saim Ayub to Ryan Burl, Quicker one, around off. Ryan Burl punches this to cover.

Saim Ayub to Sikandar Raza, Tossed up on middle and leg, Sikandar Raza flicks this to wide long on for one.

Saim Ayub to Sikandar Raza, Fuller aroundoff, Sikandar Raza goes deep in the creaseand works this in the gap on off for a couple.

Sikandar Raza walks out next to bat.

Saim Ayub to Brian Bennett, OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Carrom-ball, from Saim Ayub, does the trick for him and Pakistan as Brian Bennett perishes one short of his half-century. BB fails to read the carrom ball and plays for the one coming in with the arm. Gets a leading edge straight back to the bowler.

Mohammad Nawaz to Ryan Burl, Tossed up, around off, turning back into the batter. Ryan Burl swings for the stands but misses out. The ball wasn't far from the stumps as Usman Khan collects it behind the stumps.

Mohammad Nawaz to Brian Bennett, Fuller on off, Brian Bennett drills this down to long off for a single.

Mohammad Nawaz to Brian Bennett, Short and wide of off, Brian Bennett cuts this through point for a couple of runs.

Mohammad Nawaz to Brian Bennett, Tossed up, wide of off, Brian Bennett goes down on a knee and looks to slog sweep it but misses.

Mohammad Nawaz to Brian Bennett, Floated around off, Brian Bennett pushes this back to the bowler.

Mohammad Nawaz to Brian Bennett, Arm-delivery, on off. Brian Bennett blocks it out.

Promotion for Ryan Burl as he comes ahead of the skipper Sikandar Raza.

Saim Ayub to Brendan Taylor, OUT! BRENDAN TAYLOR IS RUN OUT! Quicker one, on the pads, Brendan Taylor manages to flick this off the inside of his bat towards the right of deep square leg and he looks to take on the arm of Babar Azam. Tha Pakistan Ace batter collects the ball and throws it on the bounce to the keeper and Usman Khan removes the bails ina flash with Taylor out of his crease at the strikers end.

Saim Ayub to Brendan Taylor, Fired around middle and off, Brendan Taylor gets an inside edge onto the pads for no run.

Saim Ayub to Brendan Taylor, Tossed up, wide of off, Brendan Taylor goes down on a knee and looks to slog sweep it but misses out.

Saim Ayub to Brendan Taylor, WIDE! Full and wide down the leg. Brendan Taylor swings and misses. Wided.

Saim Ayub to Brendan Taylor, Fired onto the pads, Brendan Taylor goes for the sweep but misses out and is hit on the pads again.

Saim Ayub to Brendan Taylor, Floated into the batter, around off. Brendan Taylor misses out on the flick and is hit on the pads.

Saim Ayub to Brian Bennett, Quicker one, on middle and off, Brian Bennett goes deep inside the crease and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one.

DRINKS! Zimbabwe are off to a solid start, cruising at 88/1 at the halfway mark. They’ll aim to build on this platform and push past 200. Pakistan, meanwhile, will look to tighten the screws with quick wickets and some disciplined bowling.

Mohammad Nawaz to Brendan Taylor, Tossed up full, on the middle and leg. Taylor sweeps this toward fine leg for a brace.

Mohammad Nawaz to Brian Bennett, Fuller arm ball, angled into the middle. Bennett knocks it off the inner half toward mid-on for a single.

Mohammad Nawaz to Brendan Taylor, On a length, around off. Taylor knocks it toward deep cover for a single.

Mohammad Nawaz to Brendan Taylor, On a length, on off. Taylor knocks this back to the bowler.

Mohammad Nawaz to Brendan Taylor, Flatter arm ball, on the middle and leg. Taylor moves across and scoops it toward fine leg for a couple.

Mohammad Nawaz to Brian Bennett, Flatter on off. Bennett punches it to long-off for a single.

Abrar Ahmed to Brendan Taylor, FOUR! Streaky, but Taylor will take it. Floated wrong'un, on the middle and leg. Taylor sits low for the sweep, gets the top edge that flies down to fine leg for a lucky boundary.

Abrar Ahmed to Brendan Taylor, Tossed up googly, on the middle. Taylor prods and defends forward.

Abrar Ahmed to Brendan Taylor, Flighted full, around off. Taylor goes for the sweep and fails to connect. Usman Khan is quick to take off the bails and appeals for stumping, that has been sent upstairs. The TV umpire has a look and confims that the foot was well grounded. NOT OUT comes on the big screen.

Abrar Ahmed to Brendan Taylor, FOUR! CHEEKY AND EFFECTIVE! Tossed up full, around off. Taylor reverses it through the gap at the backward point and the short third region for a clever boundary.

Abrar Ahmed to Brendan Taylor, A lovely googly, turning in, just outside off. Taylor prods and gets beaten on the inside edge. That was close to clipping the off-stump.

Abrar Ahmed to Brian Bennett, Tossed up leggie, just outside off. Bennett looks to drive, gets the outside edge that rolls to short third for a quick single.

Brendan Taylor comes in at number 3.

Mohammad Nawaz to Tadiwanashe Marumani, OUT! CAUGHT! Mohammad Nawaz gets the much-needed wicket. A low full toss on the middle and leg. Marumani sits low and heaves it toward the deep backward square leg region. Shaheen Afridi runs around the ropes and takes a sharp catch, just inches inside the boundary. A handy knock from Marumani ends. Zimbabwe lose their first after a solid opening stand.

Mohammad Nawaz to Brian Bennett, Fuller on the pad. Bennett turns it toward short fine leg for a single.

Mohammad Nawaz to Tadiwanashe Marumani, Very full, around off. Marumani squeezes it to to the left of the short third fielder for one.

Mohammad Nawaz to Brian Bennett, Short and wide outside off. Bennett camps back and cuts this to deep cover for a single.

Mohammad Nawaz to Brian Bennett, On a shortish length, on off. Bennett goes back and cuts it to the man at point.

Mohammad Nawaz to Tadiwanashe Marumani, Flatter and turning in on off. Marumani goes back and pulls it on the bounce to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Mohammad Nawaz comes into the attack.

Abrar Ahmed to Brian Bennett, Floated full, on off. Bennett plays the reverse sweep and picks out the man at the backward point.

Abrar Ahmed to Tadiwanashe Marumani, Fuller and quicker, on the middle and leg. Marumani looks to play the slog, gets it off the inner half to backward square leg for a single.

Abrar Ahmed to Tadiwanashe Marumani, FOUR! FINDS THE GAP! Shortish again, on the middle and leg. Marumani pulls it in the gap at deep mid-wicket and deep square leg fielder for four runs.

Abrar Ahmed to Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tad short, around off. Marumani swings and misses.

Abrar Ahmed to Tadiwanashe Marumani, FOUR! LUCKY! Flatter and quicker, just outside off. Marumani goes back for the pull but gets the top edge that flies over the keeper for a streaky boundary.

Abrar Ahmed to Tadiwanashe Marumani, Flatter leg break, angled into the middle and leg. Marumani looks to nudge it across the line, but misses and wears on the pad.

Abrar Ahmed gets the ball.

Saim Ayub to Brian Bennett, FOUR! PUNISHED! Drops it short, on off. Bennett goes back and pulls it hard toward the deep mid-wicket region, beating the fielder for another boundary to close out the over. Zimbabwe are 59/0 at the end of the Powerplay.

Saim Ayub to Brian Bennett, Flatter and slower through the air, around off. Bennett makes room and lofts it toward the deep extra cover region for a couple.

Saim Ayub to Brian Bennett, FOUR! TOO EASY! Tossed up full, drifting onto the pad. Bennett sits low and swipes it to the deep backward square leg region for a boundary. The 50-run stand comes up between Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani.

Saim Ayub to Tadiwanashe Marumani, Flatter and around off. Dabbed through the gap at point for a single.

Saim Ayub to Tadiwanashe Marumani, Floated full, on the middle. Marumani looks to slog it again but gets the inside edge onto the pad.

Saim Ayub to Tadiwanashe Marumani, SIX! BANG! Tossed up full, on off. Marumani gets on his knee and slogs it cleanly over the deep mid-wicket boundary for an 86m massive hit.

Saim Ayub comes into the attack next.

Faheem Ashraf to Brian Bennett, FOUR! SMASHED! Slower length ball, around off. Bennett picks it early and hammers the pull through wide of mid-on for a thumping boundary.

Faheem Ashraf to Brian Bennett, Back of a length, angled into the middle. Bennett pulls it on the bounce to the man at mid-wicket.

Slight Halt. Brian Bennett gets a change of bat. Let's hope he hits some off the middle of his blade.

Faheem Ashraf to Tadiwanashe Marumani, Good length delivery on the middle. Marumani tucks it toward mid-wicket for one.

Faheem Ashraf to Brian Bennett, Pitched full, around off. Bennett drives it toward mid-off and takes a single.

Faheem Ashraf to Brian Bennett, FOUR! Not from the middle, but gets enough to reach the boundary. Slower ball on the full, around off. Bennett hits it off the cue end, goes over the bowler, and through mid-on for four runs.

Faheem Ashraf to Tadiwanashe Marumani, Short of a good length, around off. Marumani runs it down to deep third for a single.

Faheem Ashraf comes into the attack.

Salman Mirza to Brian Bennett, FOUR! DISPATCHED! Banged in short, on off. Bennett takes on the short ball and hooks it toward the long leg region. One bounce and over the ropes.

Salman Mirza to Tadiwanashe Marumani, Pitched full, around off. Marumani drives it toward mid-off and takes on for a quick single.

Salman Mirza to Tadiwanashe Marumani, Fuller than a good length, a hint of swing, around off. Marumani has a wild swing at it and fails to connect.

Salman Mirza to Tadiwanashe Marumani, Back of a length, outside off. Marumani drags the pull shot to the man at mid-wicket.

Salman Mirza to Tadiwanashe Marumani, FOUR! PUT AWAY! Back of a length, angled into the middle and leg. Marumani goes back quickly and pulls it in the gap at mid-wicket. The ball races away to the ropes in a flash.

Salman Mirza to Tadiwanashe Marumani, Yorker length ball, on off. Marumani jams it toward short extra cover.

Shaheen Afridi to Brian Bennett, Back of a length on off, Brian Bennett swings at it but gets beaten again.

Shaheen Afridi to Brian Bennett, PEACH! Good length, around middle and leg, and it lands on the seam and nips back into the batter sharply. Brian Bennett is beaten all ends up but luckily for him, the ball just goes over the leg stump.

Shaheen Afridi to Tadiwanashe Marumani, Full and shaping away from off, Tadiwanashe Marumani hits it off the bottom of his bat towards the right of mid off for one.

Shaheen Afridi to Tadiwanashe Marumani, Back of a length on off, Tadiwanashe Marumani pushes this to cover for no run.

Shaheen Afridi to Brian Bennett, Shaheen comes round the wicket, attacks the stumps. Brian Bennett punts this to mid off and rotates strike.

Shaheen Afridi to Brian Bennett, Good length on off, Brian Bennett cuts this behind square on off for a couple.

Salman Mirza to Brian Bennett, Fuller than a length, just outside off. Bennett goes at it with hard hands, gets the outside edge that rolls to deep third for a single.

Salman Mirza to Brian Bennett, Fuller than a length, around off. Bennett looks to drive and misses.

Salman Mirza to Brian Bennett, Pitched full, around off. Bennett drives and picks out the man at cover.

Salman Mirza to Brian Bennett, FOUR! In the air and in the gap! Fuller than a length, around off. Bennett slices the drive in the gap at the point and the backward point region for a lovely boundary.

Salman Mirza to Brian Bennett, Pace off on a length and angled across the batter. Bennett pushes at it but fails to connect.

Salman Mirza to Brian Bennett, Good length delivery, pushed across the batter. Bennett has a poke at it and misses.

Salman Mirza will share the attack.

Shaheen Afridi to Tadiwanashe Marumani, Good length, angled back into the stumps. Marumani clips it between the short fine leg and the deep backward square leg for a couple.

Shaheen Afridi to Tadiwanashe Marumani, Leading edge but safe! Fuller than a length, on the middle and leg. Marumani looks to flick it across the line, gets a leading edge wide of the mid-off fielder for a couple.

Shaheen Afridi to Brian Bennett, Yorker length delivery in the blockhole. Bennett makes room and squeezes it to deep third for a single.

Shaheen Afridi to Brian Bennett, FOUR! TOP SHOT! Fuller than a good length, well outside off. Bennett reaches for it and finds the gap through the covers for another boundary.

Shaheen Afridi to Brian Bennett, Fuller than a length and pushed across the batter, around off. Bennett looks to drive and misses.

Shaheen Afridi to Brian Bennett, FOUR! Zimbabwe are away! Full-length delivery angled across the batter. Bennett goes for the drive, gets the outside edge that runs down to the deep third region for a streaky boundary.

We are all set for the action to begin. Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani are taking to the field for Zimbabwe, facing off against Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi, who's ready to bowl the first over.

PITCH REPORT - Bazid Khan and Ramiz Raja are at the pitchside. Bazid says the pitch comes across as slightly tacky. Adds that under the usual conditions, they’d expect a gentle sheen, but at the moment, the ball may hold up in the surface. Ramiz Raja mentions that should the dew arrive, it could allow the ball to come onto the bat more freely. Closes by sharing that the cold conditions will also influence how the pitch behaves.

Zimbabwe's captain, Sikandar Raza, is making the most of this unexpected series opportunity, seeing it as a blessing in disguise ahead of the World Cup. He's keeping his focus on the present match, while also eyeing the bigger picture. Raza describes the Rawalpindi pitch as slower than usual, likely due to the recent Test matches played here. He's not too concerned about dew, stating it's beyond their control.

Pakistan's captain, Salman Agha, has decided to bowl first, citing the wicket as a bit slow and not typical of Pindi tracks. He's also confident that there won't be any dew, which could impact the game. Salman Agha says he is optimistic about his team's chances, given their recent winning streak. However, he'll be missing key players Usman Tariq, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Wasim in this contest.

Zimbabwe (Playing XI) - Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (C), Brad Evans, Brendan Taylor (WK), Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tashinga Musekiwa, Tony Munyonga, Graeme Cremer, Tinotenda Maposa, Richard Ngarava.

Pakistan (Playing XI) - Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Salman Agha (C), Usman Khan (WK), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed.

TOSS - Pakistan have won the toss and they have decided to BOWL first.

So, who will set the tone in this opening clash, Pakistan or Zimbabwe? Let’s find out. Toss and team news coming up shortly. Stay tuned! 

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, are captained by Sikandar Raza. Their batting core features Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani, and veteran Brendan Taylor, while the bowling duties will revolve around Richard Ngarava, Wellington Masakadza, Brad Evans, and Graeme Cremer. They will, however, miss Blessing Muzarabani, who has been ruled out due to injury; Newman Nyamhuri steps in to replace him. The Chevrons face a stern challenge but will be eager to show resilience and put up a spirited fight. 

Pakistan will be led by Salman Ali Agha in this format, with an explosive batting lineup that includes Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, and Babar Azam. Their bowling attack looks equally potent, spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr., and Abrar Ahmed. All-rounders Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Nawaz add valuable depth and balance as the Men in Green aim for a strong start to the series. 

Hello, and a warm welcome to our coverage of the T20I Tri-Series featuring Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe. We kick things off with Pakistan taking on Zimbabwe at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Zimbabwe enter the series after a tough 3–0 home defeat to Afghanistan, while Pakistan arrive with confidence following a series win against South Africa.

…MATCHDAY…

Get ready for the Pakistan T20 Tri-Series 2025 between Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and the hosts Pakistan in a double round-robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the final. The hosts will take on the spirited Zimbabwe side at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in the first game of this series. The Green Shirts are historically dominant against Zimbabwe in T20s and will be looking to maintain that winning streak on home soil. Momentum is firmly with the home side, as they come into the tournament having secured a competitive 2-1 T20 series victory over South Africa last month, a performance that saw young opener Saim Ayub impress with two half-centuries. The big news for Pakistan is the return of star batter Babar Azam and pace spearhead Naseem Shah, who will bolster a side that already has in-form opener Sahibzada Farhan at the top of the batting charts. Zimbabwe, led by captain Sikandar Raza, know they have a tough assignment but will be focused on adapting quickly to the Rawalpindi conditions. Their recent T20 form, however, is a concern, as they suffered a comprehensive 3-0 clean sweep against Afghanistan in their last series. Despite the recent setback, their batting line-up, featuring the in-form Brian Bennett, who has been phenomenal, alongside experienced hands like Ryan Burl and Brendan Taylor. They will need to fire on all cylinders to challenge the strong Pakistan bowling unit. The battle in the middle will likely be decided by the bowlers. Pakistan's attack, featuring the pace and swing of the returning Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi, is formidable, but they will rely heavily on the spin of Mohammad Nawaz, who has been their leading wicket-taker. For Zimbabwe, the key to timely breakthroughs rests with Richard Ngarava and their crucial all-round threat, Raza and Ryan Burl. Pakistan, with the homecoming of their star players and an already settled core of performers like Salman Agha and Fakhar Zaman, are the clear favorites in this opener, carrying the confidence from their recent T20 series win against South Africa. However, Zimbabwe possesses enough individual talent in Bennett and Raza to cause an upset if the hosts are complacent. If the visitors' top order can handle the early pace barrage from Afridi and Shah, we could have a competitive contest.