Squads –
PAK –
Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Haider Ali, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Usman Qadir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Danish Aziz, Arshad Iqbal, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Sharjeel Khan, Zahid Mahmood
ZIM –
Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams(c), Brendan Taylor(w), Ryan Burl, Regis Chakabva, Wesley Madhevere, Donald Tiripano, Richard Ngarava, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tanaka Chivanga, Tapiwa Mufudza, Luke Jongwe
Team News –
PAK –
– Pakistan won the T20 series against South Africa in South Africa which is a great achievement for them. Team is high on confidence and can give chances to some young players to test the bench strength this series.
– Captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan will open the Innings. Both are forming one of the best opening pairs in T20 cricket recently. Both averaged 50+ against SA last series with babar going on the score his maiden T20I to.
– Fakhar Zaman will bat at 1 down. Fakhar has moved down to 1 down position from last series and it has worked for the team. He scored 94 runs in 3 games where he got some chance of Batting in last Series.
– Mohammad Hafeez will bat next. Hafeez is nothing short of any experience in world cricket, also has a very good SR recently.
– Haider Ali will bat in middle followed by M Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf.
– Usman Qadir and Mohammad Nawaz will be the spin option for Pakistan. Mohammad Hafeez can assist them.
– Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf will be the pace attack of Pakistan.
ZIM –
– Zimbabwe were clean swept by Afghanistan last series in UAE by big margins. Zimbabwe will however feel something good after the return of Brendon Taylor and Craig Ervine in the team.
– Sikander Raza has been inured and ruled out of the entire series.
The hosts have also named three fresh faces in the squad from the domestic performances , Tadiwanashe Marumani (batsman), Tanaka Chivanga (pacer) and Tapiwa Mufudza (off-spinner).
– Brendon Taylor and T Kamunhukamwe will open for Zimbabwe. Taylor is one of the best batsman ever for Zimbabwe Cricket and os coming from a good domestic t20 competition. Kamunhukamwe is a attacking batsman but can’t say against Pakistan pace attack.
– Craig Ervine will bat 1 down. Ervine is one of the most consistent Batsman in the team and will play an important role in team’s success this series.
– Sean Williams and Wesley Madhevere will bat in middle and both with contribute through both as well.
– Regis Chakabva will bat next followed by Ryan Burl and Donald Tiripano. All 3 can play some attacking Cricket especially Chakabva who recently played a match winning knock of 59 of just 29 balls against the Rhinos.
– W Masakadza, Ryan Burl, Wesley Madhevere and Sean Williams will be handling the spin section.
– Donald Tiripano, Blessing Muzarabani and Ngarava will be the pace bowling attack of Zimbabwe.
Probable XI –
PAK –
Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Usman Qadir
ZIM –
Brendan Taylor (wk), Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams (C), Wesley Madhevere, Regis Chakabva, Ryan Burl, Donald Tiripano, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava
Pitch Report –
Harare Sports Club, Harare
It’s an good surface where the ball comes quite nicely onto the bat. We had witnessed many high-scoring games in the Zimbabwe domestic t20s last week here.
Average Score : 159
Team Blueprint –
WK –
Mohammad Rizwan( Open, RHB + wk, red hot form, 297 runs in just 5 games this PSL, 147 runs in 4 games in SA series, Must have)
B Taylor ( Open, RHB + wk, 910 runs with a brilliant Average of 33 on this Wicket, 100 in domestic game recently)
Sarfaraz Ahmed(2/3 down, RHB, was striking the ball really good at 146 this psl, must gl pick)
R Chakabva( Middle order, RHB, 59(29b) against the Rhinos recently, have played just 1 game against Pakistan)
BAT –
Babar Azam( Open, RHB, #1 batsman in world cricket, 210 runs in just 4 games last Series including a ton, Must have)
M Hafeez ( 2 down, RHB + off spin, very experienced, not much useful if Pakistan is chasing)
C Ervine ( 1 down, LHB, 502 t20 runs, experienced, just 16 runs in 3 games against Pak )
Fakhar Zaman( Open, LHB, very attacking batsman with SR of 137 in t20s, brilliant form, Must have)
T Kamunhukamwe ( Open, 240 runs in 19 t20 games, good GL pick, can avoid in SL )
W Madhevere ( Middle order, RHB + off spin, excellent Allrounder, very attacking batsman, 255 runs + 6 Wickets in t20s, must have)
Danish Aziz( LHB + left arm orthodox, 768 runs + 25 List A Wickets, can be good GL pick if plays)
ALL –
Faheem Ashraf(Right Arm medium fast + LHB, can strike the ball big, 4 Wickets last series + 42 with bat, Must have choice especially while Batting 1st )
Sean Williams ( 2 down, LHB + Slow left arm bowl, one of the best Allrounders for Zimbabwe ever, 927 runs + 32 t20 Wickets, Must have)
Ryan Burl ( Middle order + leg spin, 761 runs + 22 Wickets in t20 cricket, part time bowl)
M Nawaz( Middle order + slow left arm orthodox, very experienced t20 campaigner, 5 Wickets in 4 games against SA )
BOWL –
Shaheen Afridi( Left arm fast, known for his brilliant swing and death bowling, 27 t20 Wickets in 25 games, 3 Wickets last series, Must have)
B Muzarabani ( Right Arm Fast, have played county cricket, 6 Wickets in 3 t20s last series against Afg)
Donald Tiripano( Right Arm medium fast, known for his variations, can also bat, 12 Wickets from 15 t20s)
Haris Rauf( Right Arm fast, bowls 145ks with ease, economy slightly higher, 3 Wickets against SA last series)
Usman Qadir ( Leggie, brilliant bowler player Domestic Cricket in Australia, 14 Wickets in just 8 t20s, 8 Wickets against Zim recently)
Hasan Ali( Right Arm fast, very experienced, 44 T20 Wickets on his name, 7 Wickets in 4 games against SA)
R Ngarava(Left arm medium fast bowler, 8 Wickets in 6 t20i played, 19 t20 Wickets overall)
Mohammad Hasnain( Right Arm fast, can touch 147-148 ks easily, hit the deck bowler)
C/VC –
PAK –
Babar Azam
Fakhar Zaman
Mohammad Rizwan
ZIM –
Brendan Taylor
Sean Williams
Craig Ervine