Pakistan and Zimbabwe will lock horns in the 2nd T20 of the three-match series on 3rd December at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
Match preview:
Pakistan started the T20I series on a good note, winning the first T20I by a healthy margin of 57 runs.
Pakistan has rested Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan and the side is being led by Salman Ali Agha. Saim Ayub, Aamer Jamal, and Abrar Ahmed were added to the T20 squad after the conclusion of the ODI series. Saim Ayub gave Pakistan a decent start in the last game, however, Abrar Ahmed was brilliant with the ball.
Without Babar and Rizwan in the side, the youngsters will look to make their mark in the T20 format, the way Abrar and Sufiyan showed their bowling abilities in the last game.Omair Bin Yousaf has a point to prove now after a frustrating exit in the series opener.
Sufyan Moqim will be the player to watch out for as he has been in great form in the T20Is he has played so far, he got his best bowling figures in T20 cricket in the last game of 3/20.
Talking about Zimbabwe, they will not start the series with very high expectations after losing the first T20I on top of the ODI series.
In their last series against India, they only managed to win one T20 in a five-match series. If anything, Sikandar Raza will be the key player for the home side like in the last game as well. Sikandar was one of the most impactful players of the game with a wicket and most runs for Zimbabwe in the game.
Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani are two guys who can play some explosive and impactful innings for the home side.
Zimbabwe’s spinners can tighten the screws on Pakistani batters on the slow Bulawayo Pitch like Wellington Masakadza and Sikandar Raza did in the last game.
Pitch and weather report:
The pitch at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo is expected to be a challenging one for fast bowlers. It’s unlikely to offer much swing or seam movement, making it tough for them to get wickets. However, they can still make an impact by hitting the right length and using cutters to keep the batsmen guessing.
As the game wears on, the spinners might start to find some purchase on the surface. If they can get some turn and grip, they could become a real threat to the opposing team.
Historically, teams that bat first on this type of pitch tend to have an advantage. So, the captain who wins the toss might decide to bat first and set a solid target for their opponents.
Playing XI:
Pakistan (confirmed): Saim Ayub, Omair bin Yousuf, Salman Ali Agha ©, Usman Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, and Sufiyan Moqim
Zimbabwe (probable): Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Clive Madande, Tashinga Musekiwa, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Wesley Gwandu.
Head-to-head record:
Zimbabwe and Pakistan have clashed 19 times, with Pakistan holding a commanding lead in their head-to-head encounters. The Pakistanis have triumphed 17 times, leaving Zimbabwe with just two victories.
Prediction:
Given how Pakistan has performed in the 1st T20 of the series, the Green Shirts are expected to win the second encounter of the series too. Nevertheless, Zimbabwe will try their best to push the series to a decider as the third T20 will take place on Thursday.
Where to watch:
Pakistan: Tapmad, PTV Sports, Geo Super, A Sports
India: FanCode App
Zimbabwe: ZBC TV
UK: Sky Sports Cricket
USA: Willow TV
South Africa: SuperSport
