Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S cricketers were in high spirits yesterday as they left for Pakistan where they look to step up preparations for the T20 World Cup by taking part in a T20I triangular international series in the Asian country next week.
The 15-member squad departed Harare late afternoon and was set to meet up with head coach Justin Sammons in Dubai later in the evening.
The Chevrons contingent would then connect together to Pakistan.
Sammons took his flight from South Africa where he had returned home to be with his family after a frenetic period of international cricket for the Zimbabwe national team in the last few months.
The T20 tri-series, which begins on Monday, will be the Chevrons’ last international assignment before the close of the year.
Having met with mixed fortunes in 2025, the Chevrons’ captain Sikandar Raza is expecting a strong campaign in Pakistan.
Ahead of the departure, Raza did not rule out exciting possibilities in the upcoming series, including a potential run-fest at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium where they play their first two matches.
“The Pindi (Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium) is apparently the second-highest run-scoring ground in the world if you look at the stats. So, we’re going to hopefully try and restrict them to as little as possible, because it is a high-scoring ground,” said Raza.
“The challenge is on the bowlers to not leak or try and contain the opposition to a low score, because it is a high-scoring ground.
“And then for batters, if you’re batting first, then try and take full advantage of that. Lahore is also a high-scoring ground as well. So, I’m really excited for the next series. Why? Because we’re going to a place where it is wickets and runs galore.”
Zimbabwe will open their campaign against hosts Pakistan in Rawalpindi next Monday, before facing Sri Lanka at the same venue two days later.
They will then travel to Lahore for their remaining round-robin fixtures — meeting Pakistan again on November 23 and Sri Lanka on November 25.
The top two teams on the points table will contest the final on November 29 in Lahore. Despite being the least ranked on 12th place in the ICC T20I rankings, Zimbabwe are still fancying their chances in the series. Pakistan are ranked seventh and Sri Lanka eighth.
Having played most of their T20I at home, the Chevrons are expected to encounter different conditions, which could be challenging. But Raza’s confidence was buttressed by the recent T20I series between South Africa and Pakistan which the Pakistanis won 2-1.
The Proteas scored a high score of 194/9 in one of the T20I matches at Rawalpindi and then got bowled out for a low 110 in the other match at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
“When you take wickets, you take too many wickets. If you look at South Africa, I mean, three games and they got them out three times.
“Pakistan got out, all out in the first game. Then Pakistan got South Africa out in the second game. And when the run starts to flow, teams are scoring 200, 190 and 220 as well.
“So, I’m quite excited about the next series because it’s going to be a very action-packed series and we have to be up for the challenge,” said Raza.
As part of their build-up to next year’s T20 World Cup, the Zimbabwe selection panel kept faith in the group that featured in the qualifiers as well as the most recent
Zimbabwe triangular series squad:
Sikandar Raza (Captain), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Wellington Masakadza, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Brendan Taylor.
Charles Duri