Pakistan win toss, put Zimbabwe to bat in first ODI

Arab News Pakistan
This screengrab, taken from a handout video released by Pakistan Cricket Board on October 24, 2024, shows Pakistani cricketers attending the practice session ahead of their series against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. (Photo courtesy: PCB)
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  • 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

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)

Topics: Pakistan vs Zimbabwe