LAHORE
Zimbabwe will replace Afghanistan in the three-nation T20I series scheduled in Pakistan from November 17 to 29, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Saturday. The tri-series, which also features Sri Lanka, will go ahead as planned despite Afghanistan’s withdrawal.
Earlier in the day, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced it would not send its team following the tragic deaths of three players, reportedly caused by air strikes in Paktika province. The incident occurred while the cricketers were returning from a friendly match in Sharana, the provincial capital. The ACB described the event as “tragic” and stated the decision to pull out was a gesture of respect for the victims, calling it “a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family.”
In response, the PCB invited Zimbabwe, which accepted the offer. “Zimbabwe Cricket has accepted the Pakistan Cricket Board’s invitation to participate in a T20I tri-series also featuring Sri Lanka, to be staged in Rawalpindi and Lahore from 17 to 29 November,” the PCB said.
The tri-series will begin on November 17 with Pakistan facing Zimbabwe at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Sri Lanka will take on Zimbabwe on November 19 at the same venue. The remaining five matches, including the final on November 29, will be held at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
The tournament is seen as key preparation for all three sides ahead of next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The ICC and BCCI have also condemned the killing of the Afghan cricketers.
