Playing XI
Top Fantasy Picks - All Rounders
Iftikhar Ahmed
With 28 runs and 5 wickets this series, Iftikhar is an interesting pick. He also had a decent National T20 Cup which was recently concluded with 242 runs and 3 wickets in 12 matches.
Sean Wiliams
There are only 7 all-rounders who have taken more than 10 wickets and scored more than 400 runs in ODIs since the start of 2019 and Williams is one of them; he has scored 445 runs and taken 12 wickets in this span in just 12 matches.
Imad Wasim
Since the start of 2019, Imad Wasim is one of the 2 all-rounders to have a double of 500+ runs and 15 or more wickets in ODIs. In this series itself he has picked up 2 wickets and scored 34 runs.
Top Fantasy Picks - Bowlers
Shaheen Afridi
After taking a 5-wicket haul in the first match, Afridi was wicket less in the 2nd, however he is too good a player to not be in your team. Before the last match he had taken a total of 19 wickets in his last 5 ODIs.
Tendai Chisoro
He has had a more than decent 2020 as he has picked up 23 wickets in 11 bowling innings. As context, this series he has taken back to back 2-fers (2/49 and 2/31)
Mohammad Hasnain
Pakistan played 3 debutants in total this series, and thus Hasnain can also get an opportunity given that the series is already sealed. He has taken a total of 13 wickets in his last 4 List A matches which includes a 6-wkt haul.
Top Fantasy Picks - Batsmen & Keepers
Brendan Taylor
Scores of 36 and 112 is what Taylor has achieved this series so far. To go with that, he also has 4 dismissals to his name thus giving bonus wicket keeping points apart from runs.
Imam-ul-Haq
A look at Imam’s last 5 ODI innings: 49, 58, 31, 100 and 36. Also, his record against Zimbabwe: 502 runs in just 7 matches (three 100s and one 50), average of 71, SR of 92.
Babar Azam
The skipper for Pakistan is looking in good touch after a 77* in the previous encounter which came at a SR of 105. Talking about his form, let’s have a look at his scores in his last 10 professional matches (all formats): 77*, 19, 39, 0, 64*, 86, 86*, 42, 4 and 114*
Venue Insights (Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium)
Win Rate Batting First (last 10 matches at this venue): 50% (5 Won; 5 Lost)
Average 1st innings score at this venue (last 5 matches): 234
Highest team total: 329/6 by Pakistan vs India 2004
Lowest team total: 104 (all-out) by Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka 2004
Highest individual score: 188* by Gary Kirsten vs UAE in 1996
Best bowling figures: 5/20 by Saqlain Mushtaq vs England in 2000
Probable XI
Pakistan : Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (C), Haider Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Musa Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Wahab Riaz.
Zimbabwe : Brendan Taylor (WK), Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Craig Ervine, Donald Tiripano, Chamu Chibhabha (C), Brian Chari, Wesley Madhevere, Tendai Chisoro, Carl Mumba, Blessing Muzarabani.
Preview
A fight shown in the first, but busted in the second. That is how the first 2 ODIs between Pakistan and Zimbabwe have gone by.
Batting first, bowling first - both have resulted in losses for the visiting side. The first game did show some fight but the second game lacked that spirit from Zimbabwe. There is a heavy dependency on three names - Ervine, Williams and Taylor - with the bat while the bowling simply does not have any experience. It is a good learning curve for the youngsters with perhaps, more cricket being the only solution to improve.
No such issues for Pakistan one would feel but they can tinker a bit with their selections. There is a massive urge amongst the fans to drop a few seniors and pick youngsters, which is even more fair, given that Zimbabwe do not pose that much of a threat. Also, it could be the way for the future. They are getting speedsters but quality batsmen is what they lack at the international level.
Having said that, 3-0 is on the cards.
Head to Head (ODIs)
Played - 61
Pakistan - 54
Zimbabwe - 4
NR/Tie - 3