Tuesday, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo – Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bat first in the second ODI of the three-match series against Pakistan. After their stunning 80-run victory in the first ODI, Zimbabwe will be aiming to capitalize on their momentum and seal the series, while Pakistan seeks to bounce back strongly.
Team News and Changes
Pakistan has made two changes to their lineup, introducing debutants Muhammad Irfan Khan and Faisal Akram to strengthen their options. Zimbabwe, brimming with confidence after their previous win, opted to retain their winning XI.
Pakistan Playing XI:
Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan, Tayyab Tahir, Salman Ali Agha, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Aamir Jamal, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Faisal Akram.
Zimbabwe Playing XI:
Brian Bennett, Joylord Gumbie (wk), Trevor Gwandu, Craig Ervine (c), Tawandanashe Marumani, Brandon Mavuta, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams.
Head-to-Head Record
Pakistan has historically dominated this contest, winning 54 out of 63 ODIs against Zimbabwe. The African side has only managed six wins, while two matches ended without a result. In bilateral series, Pakistan has claimed victory in 19 of the 21 engagements, with Zimbabwe forcing draws in 1994/95 and 2013.
Recent Form
Pakistan entered this series on a high note, having clinched their first ODI series win in Australia since 2002. In contrast, Zimbabwe suffered a 2-0 defeat against Sri Lanka. However, the first ODI of this series saw Zimbabwe deliver a stunning performance, defeating Pakistan comprehensively by 80 runs in a rain-affected match.
The stage is set for a high-stakes encounter as Pakistan looks to level the series, while Zimbabwe seeks to cement their resurgence with another remarkable win.
