Afghanistan pulled out of the series, citing the deaths of three Afghan cricketers killed in recent strikes
Zimbabwe Cricket has accepted the Pakistan Cricket Board’s invitation to participate in a T20I tri-series after Afghanistan have withdrawn from their the series Pakistan next month following the death of three local cricketers that the Afghanistan Cricket Board said were due to military strikes in Paktika province.
Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka were scheduled to compete in the tournament set to be held in Rawalpindi and Lahore from November 17 to 29. However, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has announced its withdrawal from the series, citing the deaths of three cricketers in recent attacks.
The ACB said in a statement that the three players travelled to Sharana, the capital of Paktika province, to play in a friendly match and later died during the strikes after returning home to the Urgun district.
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“The ACB considers this a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family,” the ACB said in a statement, mourning the deaths of the players and several others.
“In response to this tragic incident and as a gesture of respect to the victims, the ACB has decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming tri-nation T20I series involving Pakistan, scheduled to be played in November.”
Following Afghanistan’s withdrawal, Pakistan Cricket Board approached Zimbabwe to participate in the series, which accepted the invitation, the PCB said in a press release.
The tri-series will commence on 17 November as per the original schedule, with hosts Pakistan facing Zimbabwe at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The second fixture will also be held at the same venue on 19 November, when Sri Lanka take on Zimbabwe.
Following the two matches in Rawalpindi, the action will shift to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, which will stage the remaining five matches, including the final on 29 November.
Schedule of tri-series T20I tournament
17 November – Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
19 November – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
22 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
23 November – Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
25 November – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
27 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
29 November –Final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore