From Withdrawal to Opportunity: Pakistan Opens Tri-Series with a Win

Tri-series started containing Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Pakistan. Afghanistan stepped down because of recent border tensions. It benefitted someone else by not taking part in this league.

Pakistan faced Zimbabwe in the first game of the Tri-Series on Nov 18, 2025. Pakistan won this match by five wickets. This series was originally planned with Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. But because of border tensions and terror involvement in Pakistan, Pakistan did not kick them out. Despite backing terror organisations in Pakistan, Afghanistan stepped down from participating.

What a joke it was to do wrong stuff and then step down in protest. Afghanistan Cricket Board was not participating in any cricketing event. They missed a potential cricket event and also disturbed the cricket cycle. But the question is, whose loss is it?

In the point of view of Pakistan Cricket Board, the series is happening, and it is a tri-series. So for PCB, it is a win. In my POV, it is a victory as we replaced Afghanistan, the so-called best Asian team, with World Cup winner Sri Lanka. Yeah, we had a previous series with them and a healthy competition.

In the point of view of Afghanistan Cricket Board, the series withdrawal was a negative point. They missed competitive cricket clashes, and after a while, they will have games in Pakistan. They used to have the same vibes like playing at home. Pakistani fans always supported the Afghanistan team as if they were our own.

Missing such an opportunity for them was a minus thing. From my POV, leaving a series like that wasted an opportunity. Right now, they were at home, where they would have played against Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Afghanistan had many close face-offs with us and a high level of competitive games. Missing that kind of option is idiotic.

For cricket fans, it was a big addition that the series is happening with a much better nation. Tomorrow, we are going to have the second game of the series where Sri Lanka faces Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi.