Pakistan takes on Zimbabwe in the second T20I on a consecutive day in Rawalpindi. After a compelling effort on Saturday, the hosts would try to wrap up the series, while Zimbabwe would try to equal the series.
Match Timings: Nov 08, 4PM
Team Preview
Pakistan and Zimbabwe will face each other on Sunday for the second T20I. It’s a do-die game for the visitors, and Chibhabha can back his side to pull off something to surprise the hosts. Elton Chigumbra announced the retirement from international cricket, and it will be his final series. Zimbabwe would try to give him a gift with a first T20I victory over Pakistan. Madhevere showed an excellent caliber in the previous game, scoring an unbeaten 70 off 48 balls. After some good start, the batsmen couldn’t convert their score into big. Zimbabwe can still find positives from the last match. The initial acceleration helped Pakistan to cross the line, and Zimbabwe needs support in middle-overs. Ryan Burl has provided breakthroughs earlier, but surprisingly, the captain didn’t try him. Blessing had positive figures with 2 for 26, and Chisoro also bowled very well, but visitors still need a bowler who can deliver wickets in middle-overs. Zimbabwe’s decent outing on Saturday gives a slice of relief as they can outclass Pakistan if they convert their start and pick wickets on crunch time.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has a brilliant opportunity to seal the series on Sunday. They cannot digest a loss here. Usman Qasir was handed a T20I cap, and Pakistan can make changes to give their bench a try. Wahab might be dropped for Shaheen, and Musa can also get a game in place of Hasnain or Rauf. Babar Azam continued his top-form with yet another finest knock of this white-ball series. Mohammed Hafeez is carrying Pakistan’s middle-overs brilliantly, but the skipper may try other players to perform at this stage to prepare for the upcoming New Zealand tour. The toss will be influential on this track, and if we don’t see any error in Pakistan's batting, they will clinch the series on Sunday.
Pitch Report
Rawalpindi’s surface is suitable for batting, and there is enough bounce, which is good for pacers. Spinners still have an advantage in middle-overs due to the dryness of the wicket. 160-170 would be a good score on this surface. Chasing is, no doubt, an ideal call.
Possible XI
Pakistan
Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Haider Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Wahab Riaz, Usman Qadir, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain
Zimbabwe
Chamu Chibhabha (c), Ryan Burl, Brendan Taylor (wk), Elton Chigumbura, Sean Williams, Wesley Madhevere, Sikandar Raza, Tendai Chisoro, Tendai Chatara, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava
Key Players
Pakistan
Babar Azam
This series – M: 4, Runs: 303, Avg: 101
Fakhar Zaman
National T20 Cup 2020 -M: 10, Runs: 420, Avg: 35
Zimbabwe
Brendon Taylor
On this tour – M: 4, Runs: 224, Avg: 56
Madhevere
On this tour – M: 4, Runs: 168, Avg: 56
