Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE have home advantage; Afghanistan are the dark horse, while Pakistan are riding high.
This is the story heading into the tri-series between the three nations which will likely be the last stop before next month’s ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
Pakistan showed their belly with a commanding effort to lift their second Under-19 Asia Cup title over the weekend.
The Asian giants and former World Cup winners put on a dominant show with the bat and ball against India in the final to lift their second Asia Cup title courtesy of a dominant 191-run victory in Saturday’s final held in the United Arab Emirates.
With the ICC Under-19 World Cup set to begin mid next month, Pakistan have much-needed momentum on their side heading into the next couple of weeks of cricket.
Opening batter Sameer Minhas’ stunning 172 off just 113 balls did the damage to the Indian bowlers as Pakistan put up a daunting 347 on the board.
India Deepesh Devendran grabbed three wickets but the Pakistan batters following heroics from Minhas and a vital half-century from Ahmed Hussain (56), proved too much for the Indians who were all out for 156 in reply.
In the group stage outing between the two sides earlier in the tournament, India defended 240 runs by a 90-run margin to head into the semis unbeaten.
India are yet to name their squad for the U-19 World Cup, while Pakistan revealed their playing group for the tournament earlier this month.
On the other hand, Zimbabwe coach Elton Chigumbura will have a lot to ponder over in the next couple of days as he welcomes a Pakistan side on a high and an Afghanistan side that have largely kept their cards under wraps.
The three nations are set for the tri-series that begins on Thursday, Christmas Day, and will likely use it to iron out any remaining kinks in their armour, ahead of next month’s World Cup that Zimbabwe and Namibia are co-hosting.
There also is the threat of persistent rains with the weather forecast predicting cloudy and overcast conditions with high chances of rain over the next 14 days.
However, Chigumbura appears unmoved.
He has been preparing his charges for every possible challenge, whether it be the spin threat posed by both Pakistan and Afghanistan or the weather.
“We have put specific emphasis on our skills against spin because Pakistan and Afghanistan both rely heavily on quality spinners,” said Chigumbura.
“We have worked on our options, our decision-making, and how to rotate the strike under pressure.
“We have also focused on our own spin attack, making sure our bowlers understand their roles and how to control phases of play.
“So, yes, spin has been a key priority in our preparations,” he said.
On weather, Chigumbura has urged his charges to adapt.
Conditions may change quickly during a match and the Zimbabwe Under-19 coach has prepared his charges to adapt tactically. This may include adjusting batting tempo, using different bowling combinations, or being sharp with their fielding plans, and Chigumbura has been trying to help his charges manage shortened games or interruptions.
The tri-series between the three sides is slated for December 25-January 6, 2026 with Zimbabwe and Afghanistan kicking things off on Thursday.
“Our main objectives are to finalise our combinations, give players clarity in their roles, and test ourselves in competitive match situations,” said Chigumbura.
“We want to see how the players adapt under pressure and how well they execute our game plans.
“This series is about sharpening our skills, building momentum, and ensuring we peak at the World Cup,” he said.
While Pakistan will likely go into the series with all the momentum, Chigumbura is happy that he has a clean bill of health.
“At the moment, everyone is available for selection,” he said.
“We have managed players carefully, and the medical team has done a great job ensuring that any minor niggles are dealt with early.
“So, we are going into the series with a fully fit squad, which is excellent for our preparation.”
