Zimbabwe Tour of Pakistan 2026: Tests + ODI Preview, Schedule

Zimbabwe travel to Pakistan for a multi-format tour spanning two Tests and three ODIs in the latter half of 2026. The tour comes off the back of a difficult SL vs ZIM Test series for the visitors and a Pakistan side coming off a closely-fought West Indies tour. For the PCB, the tour is part of the rotation cycle that has brought a steady stream of Test cricket back to Karachi, Multan, and Lahore. For Zimbabwe, it is a bilateral that produces important WTC-cycle and ODI-cycle points. For the planning fan, it is a four-city tour that is more accessible than it has been in over a decade.

This is the tour planned in detail — the venues, the dates, the squads, the broadcast picture, ticket reality, and the logistics for travelling fans.

The fixture grid

The tour is two Tests followed by three ODIs across four cities. T20Is are not in this leg.

Match	Format	Venue	Dates (expected)	First-ball local
1st Test	Test	National Bank Cricket Arena, Karachi	11-15 Oct	10:00 PKT
2nd Test	Test	Multan Cricket Stadium	19-23 Oct	10:00 PKT
1st ODI	ODI	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore	27 Oct	14:30 PKT
2nd ODI	ODI	Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium	30 Oct	14:30 PKT
3rd ODI	ODI	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore	2 Nov	14:30 PKT

Dates are indicative based on the PCB's home cycle window. The ZIM tour fits between the Australia A and the Sri Lanka home windows.

The Tests

Test 1: National Bank Cricket Arena, Karachi

Capacity is roughly 34,000. The pitch typically offers seam and bounce on Days 1 and 2, with spinners coming into the game from Day 3 onwards. The Karachi October weather is dry and warm, with daytime highs around 33-37 Celsius.

Test 2: Multan Cricket Stadium

Capacity is roughly 35,000. The Multan pitch has, in recent home cycles, been a true Test surface that rewards quality batting. Run-rates have been moderate. Day-3-onwards turn is the bowling story.

The ODIs

Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (1st and 3rd ODI)

Capacity roughly 27,000 after the recent Champions Trophy renovation. The Gaddafi pitch is a flat batting surface, and the renovated venue has produced a series of high-scoring ODIs. The Lahore-based fan base typically sells the ground out for Pakistan home ODIs.

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (2nd ODI)

Capacity roughly 18,000. The Rawalpindi surface has historically helped seam bowlers in October. ODIs here are typically lower-scoring than Lahore equivalents.

Probable XIs

Pakistan probable XI

Pakistan's settled long-format unit, post the WI tour, is built around Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shan Masood's captaincy. The bowling combines the Shaheen-Naseem new-ball pair with Noman Ali's left-arm spin.

Test probable XI: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Noman Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed.

ODI probable XI: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk, c in white-ball), Salman Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.

Zimbabwe probable XI

Zimbabwe arrive with their settled multi-format group led by Sikandar Raza and Craig Ervine. The pace attack of Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava remains the senior unit.

Test probable XI: Joylord Gumbie, Brian Bennett, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine (c), Sikandar Raza, Wessly Madhevere, Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Trevor Gwandu.

ODI probable XI: Joylord Gumbie, Innocent Kaia, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Craig Ervine (c), Brian Bennett, Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Tendai Chatara.

Session timings

Pakistan Tests run on PKT (UTC+5). The 10:00am first ball is comfortable for Indian and other sub-continental viewers.

Format	Local (PKT)	IST	BST	AEST
Test first ball	10:00	10:30	06:00	15:00
Test stumps	17:00	17:30	13:00	22:00
ODI first ball	14:30	15:00	10:30	19:30
ODI close	22:00	22:30	18:00	03:00 (+1)

The IST overlap is almost identical (just 30 minutes ahead). The fixtures are office-friendly viewing for Indian audiences.

Broadcast

Pakistan home rights sit with PTV Sports for the home market and ARY/ten Sports historically for outbound. Indicative for 2026:

Region	Broadcaster (expected)
Pakistan	PTV Sports / Tapmad
India	Sony Sports / FanCode
UK	Sky Sports / BT Sport
Zimbabwe	ZBC Sport
ROW	ICC.tv (sub-licensed)

Confirmation from PCB typically comes 2-3 weeks before the first ball.

Tickets

PCB ticketing has shifted to a digital-first model. Indicative pricing, until the PCB confirms:

Tier	Test (PKR)	ODI (PKR)
General Enclosure	500-800	700-1,200
Premium Stand	1,500-3,000	2,500-4,500
Hospitality	8,000-15,000	12,000-22,000

Tickets typically open 4-6 weeks ahead through the PCB's authorised partner. We do not link to ticketing pages until they are live and verified.

Security and logistics

Pakistan's home cricket security operation has been steadily improving across the last five years. The four cities — Karachi, Multan, Lahore, Rawalpindi — all have established matchday protocols. Travelling fans can expect the standard sub-continental logistics: matchday entry windows two hours before the first ball, hand-baggage restrictions, and managed transport from approved hotels.

Karachi

National Bank Cricket Arena is a 25-minute drive from Jinnah International Airport. Hotels in Clifton, DHA, and the city centre are within 25-40 minutes. The matchday traffic plan is well-established for Karachi Tests.

Multan

Multan Cricket Stadium is roughly 20 minutes from Multan International Airport. Hotels in the cantonment area and the Sher Shah road area are the most convenient. The October weather is comfortable for evening cricket viewing.

Lahore

Gaddafi Stadium is in the Gulberg area, central Lahore. Hotels in Gulberg and the cantonment are within walking distance. The post-renovation venue is the most comfortable in Pakistan for premium-tier cricket.

Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is in the Saidpur Road area. Hotels in Rawalpindi cantonment and central Islamabad are within 25-40 minutes. The Islamabad-Rawalpindi metro extension makes the trip easier than it has been in past cycles.

Squad-watch storylines

Three storylines worth tracking. First: Pakistan's post-WI rotation — whether the Shaheen-Naseem new-ball pair is rested for the first Test. Second: Zimbabwe's response to a difficult SL Test series — whether Sikandar Raza's leadership and the Muzarabani-Ngarava pace attack can produce a competitive showing. Third: WTC cycle implications — both teams have late-cycle fixtures to bank, and the result here matters for the WTC mace race standings conversation.

For the planning fan, this is a manageable four-city tour with strong air links between cities and a familiar PKT timezone for Indian viewers. The next PCB fixture release will firm the dates within a 14-day window.