The Pakistan T20I Tri-Series 2025 begins with an exciting opening clash between Pakistan and Zimbabwe on 18 November 2025 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. With all three teams — Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe — entering this tri-series with an eye on ICC event preparation, the first match holds added importance. Pakistan will be aiming to start strong at home, while Zimbabwe will look to strike early and unsettle the favourites with an upset in the series opener.
This match also follows the recent schedule confirmations released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The tri-series is tightly packed, and starting well is crucial because momentum plays a significant role in short tournaments. With both teams adjusting to Rawalpindi’s evening conditions, fans can expect a competitive start to the series.
Live Streaming Info
Fans can watch Pak vs Zim live on Ten Sports (Pakistan), Star Sports & Disney+ Hotstar (India), Fox Sports (Australia), and Willow TV (USA). Match Start Time: 7:00 PM PKT / 7:30 PM IST / 2:00 PM GMT.
Team Analysis
Led by Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan enters the tri-series opener with confidence after solid recent performances in white-ball cricket. Their top order remains one of their biggest strengths. Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub give Pakistan explosive starts, capable of putting opposition bowlers under early pressure. Babar Azam, in his classical anchoring role, remains vital for building the innings, controlling tempo, and guiding the team through the middle overs.
Pakistan’s middle order — featuring Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, and Hussain Talat — provides a blend of stability and acceleration. Salman has been in excellent form recently, offering Pakistan the ability to recover from difficult phases with busy batting and intelligent strike rotation. Their collective performance will be particularly important against Zimbabwe’s improving all-round unit.
Pakistan’s pace attack continues to be their strongest asset. Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf bring a fiery combination of swing, aggression, and death-overs experience. Early wickets will be pivotal, especially given Zimbabwe’s tendency to lose key batters early against high-quality pace. Pakistan’s spin options — Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz — add depth, control, and variation, well suited for Rawalpindi’s evening surfaces that can gradually offer turn. Pakistan’s blueprint for success lies in dominating the powerplay, maintaining discipline, and finishing strongly with the ball.
Zimbabwe, captained by Sikandar Raza, enter the tri-series with renewed ambition. Their batting lineup revolves around the experience of Sean Williams, Ryan Burl, and Wesley Madhevere, all capable of stabilizing the innings or switching gears when needed. Zimbabwe’s top order will need to handle the new ball carefully, especially against Pakistan’s world-class pace trio, to avoid early collapses.
Zimbabwe’s spin attack is their biggest strength, with Raza, Burl, and Madhevere providing a versatile set of options. Their ability to control the middle overs will be crucial in restricting Pakistan’s run flow. In the fast-bowling department, Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava offer height, bounce, and left-arm variety, posing threats when they hit the right lengths. For Zimbabwe to challenge Pakistan, they need partnerships through the middle overs, sharper fielding execution, and disciplined bowling — areas that have shown improvement in recent months.
Match Insights & Conclusion
Rawalpindi’s T20 surface typically offers good pace, rewarding both stroke play and quality seam bowling early on. As the match progresses, spinners can come into play, making middle-over control essential. Winning the toss may influence tactics, with teams often preferring to chase under lights due to potential dew.
With Pakistan eager to launch their tri-series campaign with a statement win and Zimbabwe determined to spring an early surprise, the opening clash promises a thrilling, high-energy contest. Strong leadership, impactful youngsters, and skilled all-rounders on both sides set up an exciting start to what should be a fiercely competitive tri-series. If you want to watch Pak vs Zim live, scroll above and click on the streaming link provided.
