Zimbabwe looking to salvage pride in third, final ODI against Pakistan

Pak vs Zim: Zimbabwe looking to salvage pride in third, final ODI

November 03, 2020
Babar Azam in action. 

Zimbabwe will be looking to salvage some of its pride when it will play the third and final ODI against Pakistan at Pindi Stadium on Tuesday. 

On the other hand, the hosts aim to sweep the series and take their points to 30 — equal to table toppers England.

By winning the third ODI, Pakistan will be ahead at a very early stage of the race for a place in the World Cup as a direct qualifier.

"The pitch at the Pindi Stadium would be batting-friendly and possibly the best one for the series. Now all depends on the batsman how he gets runs," Head Curator Mohammad Ashraf said.

Pakistan are expected to make some changes in the playing lineup for the final ODI of the series. 

Mohammad Husnain, Zafar Gohar, and Fakhar Zaman are in line to making a comeback in the ODI squad for the last match at the expense of Abid Ali, Haris Raif, and Imad Wasim, who were not included in the fifteen-member squad named on Monday.

READ: Pak vs Zim: Abdullah Shafique named in squad for 3rd ODI

Zafar is likely to be seen in action in the ODI following a wait of five years as he played his last match against England in Sharjah in 2015. Husnain has already played five internationals for the country without any real luck. Fakhar has an impressive record against Zimbabwe and has also scored a double century in the process.

“There could be more changes as the occasion is good enough to try their bench strength. We are preparing for tough international assignments ahead and as such require to test backup players,” a team official, when approached, said.

Zimbabwe captain Chamu Chibhabha has already warned his charges that only their best efforts would help them defeat Pakistan in the last ODI. 

"Definitely we require a victory to get going for our quest to qualify directly for the World Cup. We would be needing a win even when the series has already been lost. A victory in the third ODI would help us move in that direction. I want my players to put up their best efforts in the last ODI game," Chibhabha said.

WATCH: Live Pakistan vs Zimbabwe 3rd ODI

Pakistan 15-member squad: Imamul Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Shafiq, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Zafar Gohar, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, and Musa Khan.

Zimbabwe team: Chamu Chibhabha (captain), Faraz Akram, Ryan Burl, Brian Chari, Tendai Chatara, Elton Chigumbura, Tendai Chisoro, Craig Ervine, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Wessly Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Carl Mumba, Richmond Mutumbami, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Brendan Taylor, Donald Tiripano, Sean Williams.

Match officials: Aleem Dar and Rashid Riaz (On-field Umpires), Ahsan Raza (Third Umpire), Asif Yaqoob (Fourth Umpire); Javed Malik (Match Referee).

Abdul Mohi Shah is a senior reporter for The News

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