Cricket fans, receive ready for some serious action. Pakistan is stepping onto the field to host its very first T20 Tri-series, and it's shaping up to be an unforgettable tournament. Kicking off today, November 18th, this series will see Pakistan battle it out with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. All the drama is set to unfold at the iconic Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, promising a thrilling contest from start to finish.
Key Highlights
- ✓Pakistan is hosting its first-ever T20 Tri-series from November 18 to November 29.
- ✓Afghanistan withdrew after an alleged Pakistan attack killed young Afghan cricketers; Zimbabwe stepped in.
- ✓Babar Azam is set to break Shahid Afridi's record for most T20I sixes for Pakistan.
- ✓All seven matches of the series will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
- ✓The series will not be broadcast or streamed in India due to a government decision following political tensions.
But here's the thing—this series has already had its fair share of off-field drama before a single ball has even been bowled. It’s a story of last-minute changes, high stakes, and a certain Pakistani superstar who is on the brink of making history. What's particularly interesting is So grab a coffee, and let's dive into everything you need to know about this exciting tournament.
A Rocky Start and a Last-Minute Change
What’s really remarkable is that the lineup for this Tri-series wasn't always Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe. Originally, Afghanistan was slated to be the third team. However, things took a tragic turn, leading to their withdrawal from the tournament in a move that sent ripples through the cricket community.
Afghanistan made the difficult decision to pull out after some of its young cricketers were tragically killed in a missile attack attributed to Pakistan. In the wake of this devastating event, the Afghanistan cricket board chose not to participate. This opened the door for Zimbabwe, and the PCB successfully convinced them to join the series, finalizing the three-team roster we see today.
The tournament will run from November 18th to November 29th, featuring a total of seven matches. Each team will play against the others in a round-robin format, and the top two teams on the points table will face off in the grand final. It's a compact, high-intensity schedule, and every single match will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Team News and Key Players to Watch
Heading into the series, Pakistan is riding a wave of confidence. They recently secured a dominant 3-0 victory against Sri Lanka, which has surely boosted their morale. Their squad, led by captain Salman Ali Agha, looks strong and ready to put on a show for their home crowd. They're definitely the team to beat.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka is facing some unexpected hurdles. Their appointed captain, Charith Asalanka, and key fast bowler Asitha Fernando both had to return home due to illness, which is a significant blow to their plans. In Asalanka's absence, the experienced Dasun Shanaka will take over the captaincy, while Pawan Ratnayake has been called up to join the squad.
The Man of the Moment: Babar Azam
All eyes, however, will be on one man: Babar Azam. The former captain is in scintillating form. After a long wait of 807 days, he finally smashed an ODI century recently and looks determined to carry that momentum into the T20 format. He’s not just playing for wins; he's chasing history in this series.
Babar recently achieved a monumental milestone by becoming the highest run-scorer in T20 Internationals, surpassing India's Rohit Sharma. Babar now has an incredible 4302 runs from 131 matches (124 innings), leaving Rohit Sharma's 4231 runs behind him. With Virat Kohli at 4188 runs, Babar is firmly at the top of a legendary list.
On the Brink of Breaking Records
The real buzz around Babar is his quest to break some major six-hitting records for Pakistan. He is currently tied with the legendary big-hitter Shahid Afridi, who hit 73 sixes in his T20I career. Just one more six in this series, starting with the match against Zimbabwe, will see Babar surpass 'Boom Boom' Afridi and claim the record for himself. It’s a massive moment waiting to happen.
But that's not all. He's also hot on the heels of another Pakistani great, Mohammad Hafeez, who sits in third place on Pakistan's all-time T20I sixes list with 76 sixes. If Babar can manage to hit just four sixes throughout this Tri-series, he will overtake Hafeez as well. It’s an incredible opportunity for him to etch his name even deeper into Pakistan's cricket history.
For context, the top spot for most T20I sixes for Pakistan belongs to the consistent opening batsman Mohammad Rizwan, who has 95 sixes in 106 matches. Just behind him is the explosive Fakhar Zaman with 88 sixes. While those records might be a little further down the road, surpassing Afridi and Hafeez is well within Babar's grasp during this tournament.
Full Schedule & Where to Watch
For fans around the world looking to tune in, the series has a packed schedule. The first match kicks off tonight between Pakistan and Zimbabwe at 6:30 PM Indian Standard Time. Industry experts suggest that Here’s the full list of fixtures, with all matches taking place in Rawalpindi:
- ✓Nov 18: Pakistan vs. Zimbabwe
- ✓Nov 20: Sri Lanka vs. Zimbabwe
- ✓Nov 22: Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka
- ✓Nov 23: Pakistan vs. Zimbabwe
- ✓Nov 25: Sri Lanka vs. Zimbabwe
- ✓Nov 27: Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka
- ✓Nov 29: Final Match
Viewers in Pakistan can catch the action on PTV Sports and other PCB platforms. For those in North America, Willow TV is your go-to broadcaster. Fans in Southeast Asia can tune in via Cricbuzz and Astro, while viewers in Sub-Saharan Africa can watch on SuperSport. Sri Lankan fans have Dialogue TV and Supreme TV, and Bangladeshi fans can follow along on T Sports and Tapmad. Recent reports indicate that
Conclusion
So, there you have it. Pakistan's first-ever T20 Tri-series is more than just a set of matches; it's a tournament filled with dramatic backstories, last-minute changes, and the potential for historic, record-breaking performances. While Sri Lanka grapples with lineup issues and Zimbabwe looks to make its mark, the spotlight is firmly on the hosts and their star player, Babar Azam.
As he stands on the cusp of surpassing legends like Shahid Afridi, this series promises to be a pivotal moment in his career. It's a shame that a large audience in India will miss out, but for the rest of the world, this is must-watch cricket. The stage is set in Rawalpindi for what should be an electrifying eleven days of T20 action.
