Pakistan Won the Toss and Elected to Bating in the first ODI against Zimbabwe
Rawalpindi: Pakistan's cricket grounds have once again become populated by sports. Visiting guests Zimbabwe and national team players will be in action. In the first ODI being played in Rawalpindi, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first.
It may be recalled that Zimbabwe last visited Pakistan in 2015. In the three one day matches, ODI series played at the Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore, it lost 2-0 while one match ended in a draw. The last ODI series between the two teams was played in July 2018 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Pakistan had won the five-match ODI series by five wickets. It should be noted that the second ODI of the series between the two teams will be played on November 1, while the third and final ODI will be played on November 3.
Pakistan's record in ODIs against Zimbabwe is excellent. In the 59 matches played between the two teams from 1992 to 2018, the Green Shirts have won 52 and lost four. One match was tied and two were drawn. Thus, Pakistan's win rate against Zimbabwe is 92.10%.
The Zimbabwean team last played an ODI match at the Rawalpindi Stadium on November 24, 1998 in which they lost by 111 runs. The match was between Pakistan captain Amir Sohail and Zimbabwe captain Alastair Campbell. The highlight of the match was Ijaz Ahmed's brilliant century. He scored 132 off 103 balls with four sixes and nine fours and won the men's field title.
The match between the two teams will start at 12 noon standard time at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Fool-proof security arrangements have been made for the visiting team. Babar Azam will lead the Pakistan team, Shadab Khan is his deputy but he will not be available for the first match due to fitness issues.
Other players include Abdullah Shafiq, Abid Ali, Fahim Ashraf, Fakhr Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Iftikha Ahmed, Emad Wasim, Imamul Haq, Khushdal Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Musa and Rohail Nazir.
Chambo Chibhabha will lead Zimbabwe, while other notable players include Brendon Taylor, Sean Williams, Alexander Raza, Wellington Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura, Brian Chari, Ryan Burrell, Tendai Chisro, Tendai Chatra, Craig Irwin, Faraz Akram, Tanashe. , Carl Momba, Richmond Mutham Bami, Wesley Madhviri, Blessing Mozarabani, Richard Nigrua and Milton Shumba. Zimbabwe's cricket team will play an ODI at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium after 22 years.
