Bulawayo: Pakistan have opted to bowl first after winning the toss against Zimbabwe in the opening match of their three-match One Day International (ODI) series at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo.
This marks Pakistan’s second ODI series in November, following their 2-1 victory over Australia on home soil. The series provides an opportunity for the team to test their bench strength with significant changes to their lineup.
Pakistan have handed maiden caps to four players in the series opener. Key players Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Arafat Minhas have been rested, paving the way for uncapped players Abrar Ahmed and Ahmed Daniyal, as well as Tayyab Tahir and pacer Shahnawaz Dahani.
The team is being led by Mohammad Rizwan, who emphasized the importance of this series for future planning. “The ODI series against Zimbabwe is crucial as we aim to test our bench strength and prepare for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at home. We’re determined to keep our winning momentum alive,” Rizwan stated.
The series is also the first assignment for Aqib Javed as the interim white-ball head coach, a role he will hold until the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.
Pakistan and Zimbabwe last met in an ODI series in 2020, where Pakistan secured a 2-1 victory in Rawalpindi. On their previous visit to Zimbabwe in 2018, Pakistan dominated with a 5-0 series win.
Playing XIs:
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam, Haseebullah Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Aamir Jamal, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Faisal Akram.
Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Joylord Gumbie (wk), Trevor Gwandu, Tawandanashe Marumani, Brandon Mavuta, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine (c).
The match promises a thrilling contest as both teams aim to gain early momentum in the series.
