PCB names Afghanistan replacement after cricketers killed in Pakistan airstrikes led to Tri series withdrawal

Zimbabwe Cricket has accepted the invitation from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to participate in a T20I tri-series alongside Pakistan and Sri Lanka, scheduled for November 17-29 in Rawalpindi and Lahore. The move comes after Afghanistan withdrew from the tournament following the deaths of three of its players in a recent airstrike in Paktika province.The tri-series on Pakistani soil is aimed at allowing all three teams to prepare ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka. “The Tri-Series will progress as planned even after the withdrawal from Afghanistan. We are looking for a replacement team and once finalized, the announcement will be made. The Tri-Series includes a third team in Sri Lanka, so it will begin on November 17,” a senior PCB official had earlier said.The tournament opens on November 17 with hosts Pakistan taking on Zimbabwe at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Sri Lanka will meet Zimbabwe on November 19, also in Rawalpindi. The action will then take place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, which will host the remaining five matches, including the final on November 29.Pakistan will also host Sri Lanka in a separate three-match bilateral T20 series from November 11-15.

The withdrawal of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) marks another setback in cricket relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have been strained in recent months. During a tri-series in Sharjah ahead of the Asia Cup, Pakistani and Afghan spectators were seated in separate enclosures to avoid possible conflicts. Before this, Pakistan had supported Afghan cricket by allowing its players to participate in domestic tournaments.

New T20I Tri-Series Schedule

Zimbabwe’s participation ensures that all three series will go ahead as planned, providing fans and teams with valuable T20 preparation ahead of next year’s World Cup.