Pakistan win toss, put Zimbabwe to bat in first ODI

Pakistan won the toss and put the hosts, Zimbabwe to bat on Sunday in the three-match ODI series opener, being played at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

This is Green Shirts' second ODI series this month after they beat Australia 2-1 in a historic achievement down under earlier this month.

This is Green Shirts' second ODI series this month after they beat Australia 2-1 in a historic achievement down under earlier this month.

In the 15-member squad, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi have been replaced with uncapped duo of Abrar Ahmed and Ahmed Daniyal along with pacer Shahnawaz Dahani and Tayyab Tahir.

Pakistan and Zimbabwe last faced each other in the 50-over format in November 2020 in Rawalpindi where the national side beat the visitors 2-1.

Pakistan, on their last visit to Zimbabwe whitewashed the Chevrons in a five-match ODI series in July 2018.

The ODI series will be followed by a three-match T20Is at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

Skipper Mohammad Rizwan said the ODI series against Zimbabwe was equally important for the Green Shirts as they aimed to test their bench strength and planed towards the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at home.

“With the help of the Almighty, we aim to keep the winning momentum from our last ODI series going.

“With the trio of our main players resting up after the Australia series, it will be exciting to see other players putting their hands up and helping the team at various times during the 50-over contests.

“Having played against the home team various times, we do expect them to put up challenges for us during the three ODIs but crucially this series will also test our temperament in terms of backing up a historic win in Australia.”

Former fast bowler and member Men’s National Selection Committee, Aqib Javed has been appointed as the interim white-ball head coach of the Pakistan team until the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at home. The ODI series against Zimbabwe will be his first assignment in this role after he joined the team on Friday.

Pakistan squad: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Shahnawaz Dahani, Saim Ayub, and Tayyab Tahir

Zimbabwe squad: Craig Ervine (captain), Brian Bennett, Blessing Muzarabani, Brandon Mavuta, Clive Madande, Dion Myers, Faraz Akram, Joylord Gumbie, Richard Ngarava, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tashinga Musekiwa, Tinotenda Maposa and Trevor Gwandu.

This is a developing story and is being updated with more details.