ZIM vs PAK 2018, 1st T20I - Crisis-Stuck Zimbabwe Looks to Overhaul Top-Ranked Pakistan

Top-ranked Twenty20 International side, Pakistan will square off against the 12th placed Zimbabwe in the first match of the T20 tri-series involving Australia at Harare Sports Clun on July 1 (Sunday).

While Pakistan is riding high on their confidence, Zimbabwe is going through a going phase. So much so, there was a rainbow of uncertainty over this series.

However, Zimbabwe will be out with their six experienced players- Brendan Taylor, Sikandar Raza, Graeme Cremer, Sean Williams and Craig Ervine have all, collectively, made themselves unavailable for selection owing to payment concerns during the World Cup qualifiers that ended in March 2018.

Pakistan, meanwhile, is oozing with confidence having won 11 of their last 12 T20Is. The side from Asia will look to strengthen their place at the top of the points table.

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, will look to up to their experienced players to steady the sinking ship. Bowling, of course, will have a bearing, but bigger scores on the board will always mean lesser pressure on the bowlers.

Mohammad Hafeez returns to the side after having his bowling action cleared by the ICC recently, while Ahmed Shehzad – who played in both T20I games in Scotland early this month – had been axed from the side after he was tested positive in a dope test in April. For Zimbabwe, Hamilton Masakadza will lead Zimbabwe in the tri-series.

Squad

Zimbabwe: Hamilton Masakadza (c), Peter Moor (wk), Cephas Zhuwao, Solomon Mire, Ryan Burl, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Kyle Jarvis, Blessing Muzarabani, Chris Mpofu, Tendai Chisoro, Wellington Masakadza, Ryan Murray, Brandon Mavuta, Brian Chari, Tarisai Musakanda, Chamu Chibhabha

Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (c & wk), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Hussain Talat, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Haris Sohail, Usman Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Sahibzada Farhan

Form guide

Zimbabwe WLLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan WWWWW

Pitch conditions

It’s the middle of winter in Zimbabwe, with conditions likely to be cool and dry. However, the surface can offer something early on, but this is a late start owing to the T20Is.

Hence, the side winning the toss can certainly bat first and set up the game.

Stats and trivia

• Zimbabwe have played only two T20Is in the past two years, both against Afghanistan in February this year. They lost both games.
• Pakistan’s longest-serving player, Shoaib Malik averages 66.72 in his last 24 T20I innings. In more than half of these – 13 – he has finished unbeaten.

Also Read: 5 reasons why India can win the 2019 World Cup