Zimbabwe will travel to Pakistan next month to complete a revised T20 tri-series alongside the hosts and Sri Lanka, stepping in after Afghanistan withdrew earlier in the day.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the change late on Saturday, saying it had been informed of “Afghanistan’s inability” to take part and had moved quickly to keep the 17-29 November window intact. Rawalpindi stages the first two fixtures; the remaining matches and final shift to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
Afghanistan’s absence follows a deadly incident in Urgun, close to the Pakistan border, in which three amateur cricketers were killed. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said the players were driving home from a “friendly” match in Sharana when the attack occurred.
“The ACB considers this a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family,” the board said, calling the events “tragic”. It added that “as a gesture of respect to the victims” it had “decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series.”
International bodies have offered condolences. The ICC released a brief note of sympathy. India’s board (BCCI) also passed on its respects, an unusual but welcome cross-border acknowledgement.
For Pakistan, the priority was rescuing a home programme already squeezed by a packed global calendar. An administrative source said privately the board had “only a few hours” to secure a replacement. Zimbabwe, keen for more top-level cricket after a quiet northern summer, quickly accepted.
From a cricketing angle, the switch alters competitive balance. Afghanistan sit eighth in the ICC T20 rankings; Zimbabwe are 11th and rebuilding after failing to reach the 2024 World Cup. Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten may still view the series as a chance to examine fringe players, though the loss of Rashid Khan and co. inevitably removes a layer of tactical intrigue.
Zimbabwe’s first assignment is Pakistan in Rawalpindi on 17 November, followed by Sri Lanka two days later. A double-round schedule leads into a 29 November final. Ticket details are expected this week and the PCB intends to keep prices low, mindful that weekday evening starts can test local turnout.
No further comment has come from the PCB or ACB. For now, cricket presses on, even if events beyond the boundary have reshaped the contest before a ball is bowled.
