Pakistan vs Zimbabwe 2nd T20 worldwide Preview: Hosts ZIM look to bounce

Pakistan set a target of 137-run for Zimbabwe in their first Twenty20 worldwide at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.

“Every team is looking to that World Cup, and that’s what we’re trying to do as well”, he said.

He had been selected on the basis of his all-round performances for Pakistan A. On a flat track at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, he bowled only two overs but played a more vital hand with the bat as Pakistan snuck home by two wickets. “That’s why we’re bringing youngsters in to have a look at them and see what our best team can be for the World Cup”.

Away from the cricket, Pakistan will also have been affected by the fatal Hajj stampede in Mecca, adding an emotional element to any success that they may enjoy in Zimbabwe.

Wasim’s global debut came against Zimbabwe at home in May, in the second Twenty20 worldwide.

“We were supposed to chase and get that 137 for a win despite how well they (Pakistan) bowled, we were supposed to get that”.

The two-match T20I series will be followed by three One-day Internationals against Zimbabwe in Harare.

Zimbabwe has been thorough in its preparations and judging from the way they faired in nearly all of the four matches during their May tour of Pakistan, they have a good chance against the tourists.

Shahid Afridi will lead the Green Shirts while Elton Chigumbura will be its opponent captain.

The match will start at 4:00pm (PST).

We just lost too many wickets at the end.

Pakistan and Zimbabwe have faced each other in 80 matches all-time in all formats but only seven times in the souped-up T20 format – and Pakistan has won all seven of those contests.

Earlier, batting first, the Pakistan team had been pegged back by triple strikes from Chamu Chibhabha (3/18), but recovered in the middle overs on strength of Shoaib Malik’s 24-ball 35 and a late partnership between Mohammad Rizwan (33 off 32 balls) and Imad Wasim (19 off 12 balls).

Zimbabwe (possible): 1 Chamu Chibhabha, 2 Hamilton Masakadza, 3 Craig Ervine, 4 Sikandar Raza, 5 Sean Williams, 6 Elton Chigumbura (capt), 7 Richmond Mutumbami (wk), 8 Graeme Cremer, 9 Prosper Utseya, 10 Tinashe Panyangara, 11 Chris Mpofu.

The Pakistani Captain Shahid Afridi have asked the batsmen to take up their responsibility and play sensibly so that they could put a decent and much defendable score on the board.