Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S senior men’s cricket team, the Chevrons, are packing for Pakistan as they prepare for a challenging T20I Tri-Series featuring the hosts and Sri Lanka.
Fresh from their home series against Afghanistan at Harare Sports Club last week, Justin Sammons’ men regrouped in the capital on Monday and are scheduled to depart for South Asia this afternoon. The tour begins next Monday in Rawalpindi.
The squad’s departure follows a swift turnaround from the domestic Logan Cup action, which concluded on Sunday. The trip offers the team an early opportunity to acclimatise to Pakistan’s conditions ahead of the series.
As part of the build-up, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe will also contest three One Day Internationals (ODIs), beginning today and concluding on Saturday.
Reflecting on the Afghanistan series, T20I captain Sikandar Raza said the Chevrons must refine both their batting and bowling to cope with Pakistan’s demanding wickets.
“We have about a week’s break before our next assignment. In Pakistan, we’re going to have to learn to skin the cat slightly differently because of the wickets and the challenges that will be thrown at us,” said Raza. “Watching the recent series there, the dew is starting to come in, and the wickets are starting to change a little bit.
“We have to prepare better with both bat and ball. We should be very prepared and geared for a very high pace and high intensity series so that nothing surprises us.”
The Tri-Series will run from November 17 to 29 in Rawalpindi and Lahore. Zimbabwe open their campaign against Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on November 17, before facing Sri Lanka two days later at the same venue.
The final two round-robin matches will be held in Lahore — against Pakistan on November 23 and Sri Lanka on November 25 — before the top two sides meet in the final at Gaddafi Stadium on November 29.
The Chevrons last toured Pakistan in 2020, where they lost both the ODI and T20I series, going down 2–0 and 3–0 respectively.
This tour presents an opportunity to assess their progress under new coach Sammons and a revitalised leadership group.
