In November 2025, Pakistan will host its inaugural T20 International tri series where Afghanistan and Sri Lanka will also compete in a runaway cricket festival and the first T20 International tri series organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) from November 17 to 29 with important games and finishing with a final between the two best teams.
Format And Venues
The group games will involve each team playing the other teams twice leading to the final. The first battles will take place in Rawalpindi and the rest of the games, including the final, will take place in Lahore at the fabulous Gaddafi Stadium where memories created in 1996 live on.
Schedule
Nov 17: Pakistan vs Afghanistan, Rawalpindi
Nov 19: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Rawalpindi
Nov 22: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Lahore
Nov 23: Afghanistan vs Pakistan, Lahore
Nov 25: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Lahore
Nov 27: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, Lahore
Nov 29: Final, Lahore
Historical Importance and Significance
This is important in itself, Afghanistan will be playing its first T20I on Pakistani soil, having played ODIs there in the recent past during the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. The series follows on from a recent bilateral series of Pakistan vs South Africa for Pakistan, so Pakistan has a busy, and strategically important, calendar immediately in front of them, leading into the 2026 ICC T20 world cup in co hosted by India and Sri Lanka now just over a year away. PCB Chief Operating Officer, Sumair Ahmed Syed very articulately explained the significance of the occasion, to say, ‘Most importantly, this will provide very good opportunity to build up for world cup, and also provide some very entertaining cricket for the fans right across the country.’
Next On The Horizon
Next in front for Afghanistan, after this tri-series, is the 2025 Asia Cup planned in United Arab Emirates, from September 9 to 28, so both these tournaments will give Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan, good stiff match practice ahead of a major global event, with either unique type of bilateral, and tri series, giving everyone a healthy sense of each other’s competitive edge.
