Pakistan will face Zimbabwe in the first match of the T20I tri-series. This article provides details about Zimbabwe’s Playing 11 vs Pakistan for the first match of the series.
Zimbabwe Playing XI vs Pakistan- Pakistan T20I Tri Series 2025, Match 1:
Openers: Brian Bennett, Dion Myers
Zimbabwe would like to get off the mark in the first match of the tri-series itself when they take on the home side, Pakistan.
The visitors have decided to stick with the core of the squad that featured in Zimbabwe’s last T20I series against Afghanistan and would hope for it to come good against a strong Pakistani batting and bowling lineup.
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Zimbabwe has a good blend of youth and expierence with the presence of names like captain Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor, and former captain Graeme Cremer, who will be assisted by Dion Mayers, Brian Bennett, and Clive Madande.
The Sikandar Raza-led side will open the batting with Brian Bennett and Dion Mayers, both of whom will be entrusted to give a good start to the team and score runs individually as well.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Brendan Taylor (wk), Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tashinga Musekiwa, Clive Madande, Brad Evans
The openers will be followed by former and current captain Brendan Taylor and Sikandar Raza, respectively.
The duo will be joined by spin bowling all-rounder Ryan Burl, who will play a vital role in controlling the innings while batting at number five, and will be given company by Clive Madanade and fast bowling all-rounder Brad Evans.
The responsibility will be on the top five batters to score the bulk of the runs for the team, because the team bats till number seven, which is a batter less in modern-day cricket.
If the visitors bat first, then the batters should aim to score at least 180-190 runs, as it is predicted to be a par score at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Bowlers: Wellington Masakadza, Tinotenda Maposa, Richard Ngarava
As far as the bowling is concerned, it will depend a lot on the new ball bowlers and the captain, Sikandar Raza, who will play a crucial role with the ball when the field restrictions are lifted after the first six overs.
Experienced fast bowler Richard Ngarava will have to take the responsibility and pick wickets early in Pakistan’s batting innings, as Zimbabwe will be without the services of Blessing Muzarabani, who has been ruled out of the series.
Ngarava will be supported by Brad Evans, who bowled his team to a win courtesy of some good bowling in the one-off Test, and would want to deliver a similar performance, albeit in a different format of the game.
When it comes to the spin bowling department, it comprises Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, and Wellington Masakadza.
All things said, the rainbow nation would like to put on a spirited performance in all three departments of the game to show the world what the team is capable of and give Pakistan a run for their money.
