Last Updated on 5 months ago by Charbel Coorey

Preparation for the T20 World Cup ramps up with the 1st Match of the Pakistan Tri-Series. Pakistan will take on Zimbabwe and both teams will be looking to build confidence before the big tournament which begins in early 2026.

Pakistan have had a solid year in T20Is, winning 17 of 29 matches. This includes a run to the Asia Cup final earlier this year, followed by a series win over South Africa. Their bowlers have been vital to their wins, but they will want more from their batters especially if they bat first or are required to chase a hefty total.

For Zimbabwe, they will be smarting from their 3-0 loss to Afghanistan, but their batting effort in the final game of that series gave Sikandar Raza plenty of confidence. Rawalpindi has favoured spin in T20 Internationals so far, so how the Zimbabweans cope will be crucial in their quest of pulling off an upset in Rawalpindi.

Pakistan T20 Tri-Series 1st Match: PAK vs ZIM Possible Playing XIs

With no Hasan Nawaz in the squad, Pakistan could play Fakhar Zaman at number four.

Pakistan: 1. Sahibzada Farhan, 2. Saim Ayub, 3. Babar Azam, 4. Fakhar Zaman, 5. Salman Agha (c), 6. Usman Khan (wk), 7. Mohammad Nawaz, 8. Faheem Ashraf, 9. Shaheen Shah Afridi, 10. Salman Mirza/Naseem Shah, 11. Abrar Ahmed

Blessing Muzarabani is unavailable for this series due to injury. Graeme Cremer is back and could play his first international since 2018.

Zimbabwe: 1. Brian Bennett, 2. Dion Myers, 3. Brendan Taylor (wk), 4. Sikandar Raza, 5. Ryan Burl, 6. Tashinga Musekiwa, 7. Tony Munyonga, 8. Brad Evans, 9. Graeme Cremer, 10. Wellington Masakadza, 11. Richard Ngarava

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium Pitch Report and Weather

Expect an excellent batting pitch. In seven completed T20Is at this venue since the start of 2020, the average first innings score of 153.43 at a run rate of 7.67. The chasing team has won six of the seven matches. Teams batting second score at 8.78 per over.

In this period, pace bowlers have taken 47 wickets at an average of 32.11 and economy of 8.38. Spinners have fared much better with 34 wickets at an average of 21.26 and economy of 7.77.

A cool and clear evening is forecast with temperatures to drop down to around 12 degrees at night. Dew is likely and chasing will be preferred.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for PAK vs ZIM T20I: Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top wicket-keeper picks:

• Sahibzada Farhan is the best wicket-keeper pick for Dream11 in this match. He opens the batting and can score well in home conditions. He is Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in T20Is this year (580) with an average of 27.61 and strike rate of 129.75.

Key batter picks:

• Babar Azam recently broke his century drought in international cricket. He has three half-centuries in six T20Is against Zimbabwe. Also, Babar loves this ground, with 741 T20 runs at an average of 41.2 and strike rate of 149.4.
• Brian Bennett has enjoyed a strong year in T20Is. He has the fifth-most runs in this format in 2025 with 795 at an average of 37.85 and strike rate of 151.71.

Top all-rounder picks:

• Sikandar Raza is selected in over 93% of Dream11 teams. Although he averages just 16 with the bat in T20Is against Pakistan, Sikandar has plenty of experience playing in the PSL. He offers plenty of value with bat and ball.
• Ryan Burl is one of the best Dream11 picks from Zimbabwe in this match. Like Raza, Burl has a low average against Pakistan (10.87), but he is in decent form this year (428 runs, avg. 26.75, SR 143.62) and can also be called on to bowl at a ground where spinners have had success in T20Is.
• Expect Mohammad Nawaz to test the Zimbabweans with his accurate left-arm spin. He is a good pick whether Pakistan bat or bowl first as he can also provide runs down the order if the hosts are required to set a score.

Key bowler picks:

• Shaheen Shah Afridi has taken 19 wickets in 13 innings in all T20s at Rawalpindi. He strikes every 12.6 deliveries. He bowls in the crunch overs which provides wicket-taking opportunities.
• Abrar Ahmed has been in superb wicket-taking form across ODIs and T20Is and is a differential c/vc option in Dream11. He’s picked up 17 wickets in his last 10 internationals, including 3/53, 4/27 and 3/41 in recent ODIs. He will be sure to test the Zimbabwean batters with his variations.

Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Teams

• Saim Ayub can go big on his day. He recently scored 71* and 37 in the T20Is against South Africa. However, he also has five ducks in his last 10 T20Is.
• Brendan Taylor bats at number three and will get a good opportunity to bat. He is also expected to don the wicket-keeping gloves which can fetch extra points. However, in nine T20Is up until 2021, Taylor scored just 111 runs at an average of 13.87 against Pakistan.
• Richard Ngarava is Zimbabwe’s lead bowler and can find movement upfront. He also bowls at the death.
• Brad Evans can contribute with both bat and ball for Zimbabwe. Same with Faheem Ashraf who has taken regular wickets in recent internationals.
• Fakhar Zaman is a solid pick especially if he opens. Keep an eye on where he is listed in the batting order.
• Salman Agha has been in terrific form in ODIs, but he’s often struggled for impact in T20Is this year.

Other Stats and Important Matchups

• Head-to-head in T20Is: Matches 21, Pakistan 18, Zimbabwe 3.
• Pakistan have won all five home T20Is against Zimbabwe, including a 3-0 series sweep on this ground in 2020.
• Zimbabwe have won two of the last four T20Is against Pakistan: one in the 2022 T20 World Cup and the other in Bulawayo in 2024.
• Richard Ngarava vs Babar Azam in all T20Is: 62 balls, 88 runs, no wickets.
• Brad Evans dismissed Babar Azam off the only ball he bowled to him, back in 2022.
• Brian Bennett against left-arm seam in T20Is this year: 78 balls, 135 runs, avg. 33.8, SR 173.1.

PAK vs ZIM 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today – Pakistan T20I Tri-Series 2025 1st Match

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams. 

Option 1:

Option 2:

PAK vs ZIM 1st T20 Match Prediction Today – Who will win?

Pakistan to win.

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All statistics and matchups in this article have been verified by ESPNcricinfo and Cricmetric.