On Monday, November 24, 2025, Pakistan dismantled Zimbabwe by 69 runs in Match 4 of the Pakistan T20I Tri-Series 2025Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, sealing their place in the final with a flawless 3-0 record. The match, which began at 6:30 PM IST, unfolded under a baking, dry pitch that had long lost its grass—conditions that favored spinners and disciplined bowling over big hitting. For Indian fans, the only way to watch was via the Sports TV YouTube Channel, offering free, ad-supported streaming across devices. No TV broadcast was available in India, but globally, fans tuned in through regional platforms like Willow TV in the U.S. and TNT SportsPCB in the UK.
How Pakistan Dominated on a Tired Pitch
Pakistan, led by captain Salman Ali Agha, opted to bowl first after winning the toss—a bold move given they’d batted first in their first two matches. "I wanted to be a bit brave," Agha admitted post-match. "My toss record’s terrible, but I felt the pitch would slow down, and we needed to test our chase under pressure." The decision paid off. Zimbabwe, captained by Sikandar Raza, managed just 108 all out in 18.4 overs, their lowest T20I total against Pakistan in 12 meetings.Enter Usman Tariq, the surprise pick replacing Salman Ma. His figures of 2-1-9-3 were devastating. He removed opener Tadiwanashe Marumani in the 0.6 over with a 138 kph yorker—a moment captured in real-time by broadcasters. Then came Naseem Shah, who bowled with raw pace and precision, taking two wickets in his four overs. Zimbabwe’s batting collapsed under pressure, with only Ryan Burl (24) and Wellington Masakadza (18) offering resistance. Their 10th-wicket stand of 21 runs became the highest ever for Zimbabwe against Pakistan in T20Is—a small comfort in a heavy defeat.
Zimbabwe’s Rotational Gambit Backfires
Zimbabwe made a curious change, swapping Graeme KMA for Wellington Masakadza, calling it a "purely rotational" move to "give everybody a go," as team officials told YouTube commentators. But with the match already slipping away, the substitution looked more like desperation than strategy. The pitch, described by analysts as "very tired and dry," offered little bounce or carry. Batters struggled to time the ball, and spinners like Mohammad Nawaz—fresh off a 3-wicket haul against Sri Lanka two days prior—exploited the cracks mercilessly."It was a grind," said one pre-match analyst. "You needed to score 155 to feel safe. Anything below that, and you’re playing with fire." Zimbabwe never came close. Pakistan’s chase was a formality: they reached 109/1 in 13.2 overs, with Sahibzada Farhan (47*) and Mohammad Wasim (32*) guiding them home without alarm. Wasim’s boundary off Ryan Burl in the 15.3 over—when Zimbabwe’s hopes were already fading—was the final nail.
India’s Free Streaming Access and Global Reach
For Indian viewers, the Sports TV YouTube Channel became the de facto hub for live cricket. No subscription, no geo-blocks—just a simple click. This was a rare move by a cricketing nation’s broadcaster to offer free access to an international fixture, likely driven by the massive fanbase for Pakistan cricket in India. The match peaked at 1.8 million concurrent viewers on YouTube, making it one of the platform’s most-watched T20I streams in 2025.Elsewhere, viewers tuned in with precision. In the UK, TNT SportsPCB aired the match at 6:00 PM BST. In the U.S., Willow TV carried it live at 8:00 AM ET. Bangladesh fans followed via T Sports at 7:00 PM local time, while Pakistanis streamed it on the themad app from 6:00 PM PKT. The global distribution underscored how deeply embedded Pakistan cricket is in the diaspora—even when the team plays at home.
What This Means for the Final
Pakistan’s win sets up a final against Sri Lanka, whom they’d already beaten by seven wickets on November 23. Sri Lanka, now winless in two games, faces an uphill battle to recover. Pakistan, meanwhile, enters the final on a 12-match winning streak against Zimbabwe in T20Is, and with momentum building. Their batting depth—now proven under pressure—and bowling variety make them clear favorites.But here’s the twist: Pakistan’s captain admitted his toss record is poor. If they win the toss again in the final, will they bowl first again? Or will they trust their batters? The answer might hinge on the pitch condition at Rawalpindi—still drying out, still unpredictable.
Historical Context: Pakistan’s Dominance Over Zimbabwe
Pakistan has won 11 of the last 12 T20I matches against Zimbabwe, including a 5-wicket win in the series opener just days before this match. In that game, Fakhar Zaman scored 44 and Mohammad Nawaz smashed 21 off 12 balls. This latest win wasn’t just about results—it was about statement-making. Zimbabwe’s resurgence in 2024, highlighted by wins over Ireland and Bangladesh, had raised hopes. But against Pakistan’s calibrated attack, those hopes evaporated.The Rawalpindi pitch, worn and lifeless, became a metaphor: Zimbabwe’s fight was there, but the surface didn’t reward it. Pakistan didn’t need fireworks. They needed discipline. And they delivered.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can Indian viewers watch Pakistan vs Zimbabwe cricket matches for free?
Indian viewers can stream Pakistan vs Zimbabwe matches for free on the Sports TV YouTube Channel, accessible via mobile, laptop, or connected TV without any subscription. This was the only legal option in India, as no TV broadcaster held rights. The channel streamed the entire Pakistan T20I Tri-Series 2025 live, drawing over 1.8 million concurrent viewers during the Zimbabwe match.
Why did Pakistan choose to bowl first despite winning their last two matches batting first?
Captain Salman Ali Agha cited the dry, worn pitch at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium as the reason. With little grass and the ball skidding low, he believed chasing would be easier later as the surface deteriorated. The strategy worked: Zimbabwe collapsed to 108 all out, and Pakistan chased it down in under 14 overs without losing a wicket.
Who were the key performers for Pakistan in the match against Zimbabwe?
Usman Tariq was the standout with 3 wickets for just 9 runs in 2 overs, including the crucial dismissal of Tadiwanashe Marumani. Naseem Shah added two wickets with pace, while Mohammad Wasim and Sahibzada Farhan anchored the chase with an unbeaten 79-run partnership. The bowling unit restricted Zimbabwe to their lowest T20I score against Pakistan in over a decade.
What impact did the pitch conditions have on the match outcome?
The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch was described as "very tired and dry," with almost no grass and hard, uneven bounce. This favored spinners and disciplined line-and-length bowling. Batters struggled to generate power, and Zimbabwe’s middle order collapsed under pressure. Teams batting second had a slight advantage, but Pakistan’s bowlers exploited the conditions so well that even chasing was never in doubt.
Is this Pakistan’s first 3-0 record in a T20I tri-series?
No, but it’s their first 3-0 record in a tri-series involving Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka since 2018. Pakistan has previously completed clean sweeps in home tri-series against Ireland and Afghanistan, but this performance—especially the bowling dominance on a deteriorating pitch—was considered their most complete in recent years. Their win streak against Zimbabwe now stands at 11 consecutive T20Is.
What’s next for Zimbabwe after this heavy defeat?
Zimbabwe faces a rebuilding phase. Their 108 all out was their lowest T20I score against Pakistan, and their batting frailties were exposed. The team’s management admitted they needed to test new players, but the timing was poor. They’ll now focus on the next bilateral series against Namibia in January 2026, with an eye on rebuilding confidence and adapting to subcontinental pitches before the 2026 T20 World Cup qualifiers.