ISLAMABAD: Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan put Zimbabwe to bat in the first ODI between the two sides in Bulawayo’s Queens Sports Club on Sunday.
Pakistan are playing an away ODI series against Zimbabwe from Nov. 24 to Nov. 28, with the Green Shirts hoping to keep up their ODI momentum following their recent series win against Australia.
Pakistan’s 15-member squad led by Rizwan reached Zimbabwe last week after defeating Australia 2-1 Down Under earlier this month. Pakistan ended the Australian tour on a dismal note though, losing the T20 series 3-0.
Rizwan said Pakistan were hoping to cash in on the ODI momentum.
“Maybe the first hour will be difficult and we want to take advantage of that,” the Pakistani captain said after winning the toss. “The confidence is (high) and we’d like to continue in the same way.”
Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine admitted he would have opted to field first too had he won the toss.
“The wicket does look good but the overhead conditions maybe favoring bowl first,” he said. “Our week’s preparation has been really good, guys brought a lot of intensity, great attitude to this week’s training and expecting more of that as well.”
Pakistan have replaced Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi with the uncapped duo of Abrar Ahmed and Ahmed Daniyal, and pacer Shahnawaz Dahani and Tayyab Tahir.
Pakistan and Zimbabwe last faced each other in the 50-over format in November 2020 in Rawalpindi where Pakistan beat the visitors 2-1.
Pakistan, on their last visit to Zimbabwe, whitewashed the Chevrons in a five-match ODI series in July 2018.
Pakistan playing XI: Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam, Haseebullah Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Aamir Jamal, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Faisal Akram
Zimbabwe playing XI: Brian Bennett, Joylord Gumbie (wk), Trevor Gwandu, Tawandanashe Marumani, Brandon Mavuta, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine (c)
Schedule of matches:
24 Nov – 1st ODI vs Zimbabwe (12.30pm PST)
26 Nov – 2nd ODI vs Zimbabwe (12.30pm PST)
28 Nov – 3rd ODI vs Zimbabwe (12.30pm PST)
Pakistan win toss, put Zimbabwe to bat in first ODI
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Pakistan win toss, put Zimbabwe to bat in first ODI
- Pakistan will play three ODI and three T20I matches against Zimbabwe from Nov. 24 to Dec. 5
- Skipper Mohammad Rizwan to lead Pakistan while Zimbabwe will be captained by Graig Ervine
Pakistan name six uncapped players in ODI squad for Bangladesh series
- Series in Dhaka from Mar. 11-15 marks Pakistan’s second visit as ties between the two countries improve
- PCB says fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue to lead Pakistan’s ODI side in three-match series
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Wednesday it picked six uncapped players in its 15-member One Day International (ODI) squad for a three-match series scheduled from Mar. 11-15 against Bangladesh in Dhaka in what will be Pakistan’s second visit since relations between the two countries began to improve in 2024.
The two sides have been strengthening cricketing ties. Earlier this year, Pakistan briefly threatened to boycott its Twenty20 World Cup match against India in Colombo, citing what it called unfair treatment of Bangladesh after the International Cricket Council (ICC) moved Dhaka off the tournament schedule after the team refused to play in India over security concerns.
Pakistan later reversed its decision following negotiations, with officials saying Bangladesh’s concerns had been addressed by the ICC.
“Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue to lead the ODI side, with six uncapped players included in the squad,” the PCB said in a statement.
“The uncapped players are Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan and Shamyl Hussain.”
The Pakistan team will reach Dhaka on Mar. 8 and play a practice match on Mar. 10 before the series begins.
The first ODI will be played on Mar. 11, followed by the second on Mar. 13, with the third and final match scheduled for Mar. 15.
All three matches will take place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
The series comes amid a broader thaw in diplomatic ties between the two South Asian nations, which were part of the same country until Bangladesh’s secession following a bloody civil war in 1971, an event that long cast a shadow over relations.
Relations have warmed since August 2024, after the ouster of former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was widely viewed as close to India.
Cricket has often reflected political currents in South Asia.
15-MEMBER SQUAD
Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jr., Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha and Shamyl Hussain
