LAHORE: Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in a tri-nation T20I series in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, aiming to maintain its white-ball momentum while also preparing for next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Pakistan recently defeated South Africa 2-1 in both the ODIs and T20Is before sweeping Sri Lanka 3-0 in the ODI series. In contrast, Sri Lanka will enter after losing 2-1 to Bangladesh and defeating Zimbabwe 2-1 in T20Is. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, followed their series against Sri Lanka with outings against Namibia and Afghanistan – beating Namibia 2-1 and losing 3-0 to Afghanistan.

Since the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 – where all three teams failed to reach the Super Eights – Pakistan and Zimbabwe have each played 37 T20Is (Pakistan won 19; Zimbabwe 17), while Sri Lanka have played 23, winning 10.

With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 now just four months away, all three sides will use this series to finalise their combinations. The tri-series will help them sharpen strategies, refine game plans and provide players greater clarity on roles.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has been proactive in creating competitive opportunities for its players, and this series is a result of that approach. Originally, a three-match T20I series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was planned in the FTP, but it was upgraded to a tri-series with Afghanistan. After Afghanistan withdrew, Zimbabwe were invited, and the start date shifted by a day following an additional rest day in the Pakistan–Sri Lanka ODI series.

Pakistan’s likely final T20I assignment before the World Cup will be against Australia in January 2026, though details are yet to be announced. It is expected that Australia’s white-ball tour will be split – T20Is before the World Cup and ODIs afterward.

Pakistan last played Sri Lanka in the ACC Asia Cup, winning by five wickets, while they defeated Zimbabwe 2-1 in December 2024. Sri Lanka also won their September series against Zimbabwe 2-1 in Harare.

From Pakistan’s perspective, Babar Azam will again be in focus. The premier batter broke an 83-match century drought with a superb hundred in the second ODI against Sri Lanka and finished the series with 165 runs at 82.50. However, his T20I return against South Africa was modest – 79 runs in three matches, including 68 in one innings.

Captain Salman Ali Agha, successful in Tests and ODIs, will be under scrutiny as he seeks consistency in T20Is. Although he has won 19 of his 33 matches as captain, his 592 runs at 24.67 with a sub-100 strike-rate highlight his struggle to adapt.

Explosive opener Fakhar Zaman returns after missing the South Africa T20Is. He played domestic cricket to regain rhythm and rejoined the coloured kit side for the ODIs against Sri Lanka, aggregating 165 runs in three matches.

With Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub already in the squad, his batting position will be a key talking point. If Fakhar plays at No.3, Babar moves to four. Alternatively, Fakhar may open with Farhan, pushing Saim down the order.

Saim, after a rough run, bounced back with scores of 37, 71* and 0 against South Africa.

Meanwhile, young talent Hasan Nawaz – considered a future star – will miss the series after being released to play the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and work on his technique. His technical issues raise questions about why he was selected for the New Zealand tour earlier this year and has to date played 25 T20Is. Whether he can correct his game remains to be seen, but pressure will surely accompany his eventual return.

Schedule of matches:

18 Nov – Pakistan v Zimbabwe

20 Nov – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe

22 Nov – Pakistan v Sri Lanka

23 Nov – Pakistan v Zimbabwe

25 Nov – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe

27 Nov – Pakistan v Sri Lanka

29 Nov – Final