Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Chevrons landed in Pakistan talking tough and looking sharp ahead of tomorrow’s explosive T20I tri-series opener against the hosts in Rawalpindi.
Spirits are high, the mood is loud, and the boys believe they can make a real statement on this tour.
They arrived last Thursday to a tense scene after a suicide bomb attack in Islamabad last week, but the squad brushed it off and went straight onto the training field.
Coach Justin Sammons pushed the tempo from day one as the team worked under lights to adjust to conditions they’ll face again at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
“We are just really acclimatising to conditions, under lights, the dew factor, etc,” Sammons said.
“So that was good, just a nice technical session. And then tomorrow we’ll get into more competitive stuff. Yeah, but guys are settling in nicely here.”
Zimbabwe open the series against Pakistan tomorrow, square up with Sri Lanka on Thursday, then take a three-day breather before meeting Pakistan again next Sunday.
They close their round robin showdown with Sri Lanka on November 25.
Each team plays four games before the top two fight it out for the trophy on November 29.
Sammons said it’s time for his players to raise their levels after a stop start year.
“In terms of the expectations of the tour, obviously we want to keep raising our standards and pushing our boundaries.
“And the guys are looking forward to that and looking forward to doing it in different conditions. Obviously, it’s great sort of preparation for a lot of our guys or for all of the guys for the World Cup.
“And a lot of them haven’t really been here before. So yeah, it’s a great opportunity for us to learn; learn more and make sure we take those learnings with us into the next few months. So, I think everyone is really looking forward to it.”
Security has been tightened around Rawalpindi, but the teams still found time for a break.
Pakistan skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi hosted a rooftop dinner in Islamabad for the visiting Sri Lankans and Zimbabweans on Saturday, with players from all camps tucking into local dishes and sharing a relaxed night out before the battles ahead.
The tri-series is more than a warm up. It’s a dress rehearsal for next year’s World Cup, and every match counts.
For Zimbabwe, this is a chance to send a message, sharpen their combinations, and show they belong in the big conversations.
