After thrashing Zimbabwe by nine-wickets on Monday, Pakistan can claim an unassailable 3-0 series lead with two games to go if they win Wednesday’s third ODI in Bulawayo.
Here, we look at the talking points ahead of the game.
PAKISTAN’S EXPERIMENTING TO BE PUT ON HOLD
With less than a year to go until the World Cup in England and Wales, teams are looking to fine tune their preparations for the showpiece event. Coach Mickey Arthur and Sarfraz Ahmed have previously said it’s more than just a series win they want to take from Zimbabwe, but also the opportunity to see what other players can bring to the table.
But while Sarfraz reiterated the idea that some changes could be made, he hinted in his post-match press conference that there will be no changes until the series is all but won. “There are chances of a couple of teams shuffling but first we want to win the series,” said the skipper.
That means spinner Yasir Shah, who hasn’t played an ODI since August 2016 against England, may have to wait for his chance with teenager spinner Shadab Khan likely to keep his place despite going wicketless on Monday.
Shadab Khan will be hoping to take wickets in the third ODI.
HOW TO STOP FAKHAR ZAMAN?
The hosts must be getting sick and tired of facing the Pakistani opener. Including the tri-series, Zaman has scored two half-centuries and a ton, which came in the second ODI, against Zimbabwe already on this tour. It could have been three fifties but he missed that milestone by three runs in the T20I. Most importantly those efforts have come in winning efforts and with 455 runs scored on Zimbabwe soil already on this tour, the 28-year-old is clearly a man in form.
It’s integral that if Zimbabwe want to pull off an unlikely victory, captain Hamilton Masakadza will need his bowlers to raise their game and put Zaman under constant pressure to get Pakistan’s danger man out early.
In form batsman Fakhar Zaman.
ANOTHER TOUGH TASK FOR ZIMBABWE BATSMEN
If Shadab Khan proved to be the wrecker-in-chief with the ball in the opening ODI with figures of 4-32, then it was the pace duo of Hasan Ali (3-32) and Usman Khan (4-32) who did the damage in the second match.
The good news was that Zimbabwe fared much better with the bat on Monday with captain Hamilton Masakadza and Peter Moor hitting half-centuries. It was a vast improvement from the first ODI where Ryan Murray’s 32no was the hosts’ highest score.
Coach Lalchand Rajput will be hoping it’s the start of things to come for the rest of the series and and that other batsmen can step up.
Likely Teams:
Zimbabwe: Brian Chari, Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza (c), Tarisai Musakanda, Peter Moor, Ryan Murray (wk), Donald Tiripano, Liam Roche, Wellington Masakadza, Tendai Chatara, Blessing Muzarabani
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed (c and wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Yasir Shah, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir
