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ISLAMABAD, Nov 17 (APP): Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe will compete in a seven-match T20I Tri-Series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from November 18 to 29, marking the first-ever T20I tri-nation event to be staged in Pakistan.
Each side will play four league matches, with the top two teams qualifying for the final scheduled on November 29. All matches will begin at 6pm PST, while the toss will take place at 5:30pm.
The hosts under the captaincy of Salman Ali Agha enter the tri-series with strong recent form in T20Is. Earlier this year, the side featured in the final of the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup in the UAE and later defeated South Africa 2-1 in a three-match T20I series at home. Earlier this year, Pakistan swept Bangladesh 3-0 in a commanding performance in Lahore.
Ahead of the event, Pakistan featured in a full bilateral series against South Africa comprising two Tests, three ODIs and
three T20Is. The hosts drew the Test series 1-1, won the ODI series 2-1 in Faisalabad. They also completed a 3-0 clean sweep against Sri Lanka in the recently concluded ODI series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha ahead of the tri-series said, “The tri-series comes at an ideal time for us. It allows the group to play consistent cricket against two competitive sides and further refine our T20I plans ahead of all-important ICC Men’s T20 World Cup next year.
“We have produced encouraging performances in recent months, winning the tri-series in Sharjah, qualifying for the final of the Asia Cup and winning white-ball series against South Africa and Sri Lanka. The team showed excellent discipline in the ODI series against Sri Lanka and we look forward to carrying that momentum into this tournament.
“We have seen great support for the home side from the Rawalpindi fans and we are expecting quality contests throughout the series.”
15-member T20I squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicket-keeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicket-keeper), Usman Tariq.
Series schedule (all matches at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium): November 18– Pakistan v Zimbabwe; November 20– Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe; November 22– Pakistan v Sri Lanka; November 23– Pakistan v Zimbabwe; November 25– Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe; November 27– Pakistan v Sri Lanka; November 29– Final.