Zimbabwe to host tri-series ahead of U19 World Cup 2026
Zimbabwe will host Pakistan and Afghanistan in a tri-nation series ahead of the ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026.
The final preparations for the ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026 will gather pace for Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, as they engage in a tri-nation series before the tournament.
The showpiece event is all set to be hosted from 15 January- 6 February in Zimbabwe and Namibia, and the tri-nation series will provide good practice to the three sides before the event.
Action will get underway on Christmas Day, 25 December, with Zimbabwe facing Afghanistan at Harare Sports Club.
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The second match will see Afghanistan take on Pakistan on 27 December, also at Harare Sports Club.
The tournament will then move to Prince Edward School on 29 December, where Zimbabwe will face Pakistan, before the hosts return to action on 31 December against Afghanistan at Sunrise Sports Club.
Afghanistan and Pakistan will meet again on 2 January at Sunrise Sports Club, while the final round-robin fixture will be staged at Old Hararians Sports Club two days later, with Zimbabwe taking on Pakistan. This is where the final of the tri-series will also be played.
Givemore Makoni, Zimbabwe Cricket Managing Director, stated that the tournament would give competitive exposure for the country’s young players ahead of the World Cup.
“This tri-series is a key part of our final preparations for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup,” he said.
“Playing against strong Under-19 teams like Afghanistan and Pakistan will give our players the quality match experience they need ahead of a major global event on home soil.”
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Fixtures:
25 December - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan, Harare Sports Club
27 December - Afghanistan v Pakistan, Harare Sports Club
29 December - Zimbabwe v Pakistan, Prince Edward
31 December - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan, Sunrise Sports Club
2 January - Pakistan v Afghanistan, Sunrise Sports Club
4 January - Zimbabwe v Pakistan, Old Hararians Sports Club
6 January - FINAL, Old Hararians Sports Club
Zimbabwe and Afghanistan will look for their first-ever U19 World Cup title, whereas Pakistan has won the tournament twice before in 2004 and 2006.