This is Zimbabwe’s first tour of Pakistan since 2015; the African side is the first cricket team to visit Pakistan during the times of Covid-19 pandemic.

The ODI series will be part of International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League from which the seven top-ranked sides, apart from hosts India, will qualify directly for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

Before the ongoing series, 59 ODIs were played between the two countries, out of which Pakistan won 52 and Zimbabwe only four.

In the shortest version of the game, the two teams have come across 11 times and Pakistan have never lost.

Although Babar Azam was appointed captain of the limited-overs side over a year ago, this is the first time he is leading the side at home in ODIs. Leg-spinner Shadab Khan has been appointed as vice-captain in both ODI and T20 formats.

Former wicket-keeper skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, veteran batsman Shoaib Malik and fast bowler Muhammad Amir have not been selected for the series.

Dropping Sarfraz, Malik and Amir shows that the selectors are in search of younger players. The senior trio lost head coach Misbahul Haq’s faith after their fading form. Amir was wicket-less on the England tour and had a poor season in the National T20 cup with six wickets at 38.83.

Mohammad Rizwan is the first-choice wicketkeeper. With an eye on future, the selectors have chosen Rohail Nazir to be Rizwan’s back-up wicketkeeper.

Uncapped Abdullah Shafiq, a top order batsman, has found a place after good performances for Central Punjab in the recently-concluded National T20 Cup.

Abdullah finished the tournament with 358 runs in 10 innings, striking them at 133 with an average of 44.75. He struck two half-centuries and one century. Shafiq also made a century in his only first-class appearance so far, making him the first Pakistani and second in cricket history to manage debut hundreds at both the first-class and T20 cricket.

Former great leg-spinner Abdul Qadir’s son Usman Qadir also gets a chance to show their skills against the African side.

Zimbabwe’s visit began with a controversy as the Indian government once again interfered in sports matters, this time stopping Zimbabwe head coach Lalchand Rajput, an Indian national, from traveling to Pakistan.

According to Zimbabwe Cricket, the Indian embassy in Harare had sought exemption for Rajput visiting Pakistan, citing travel guidelines issued by the Government of India for its citizens.

Rajput was appointed as Zimbabwe’s full time coach in August 2018, after the team’s failure to qualify for the 2019 World Cup. In Rajput’s absence, bowling coach Douglas Hondo will take charge of the team during the tour.

Chamu Chibhabha is leading the Zimbabwe side. Former captain Sean Williams is in the side but he will play as a player. Brendan Taylor, Sikandar Raza and Elton Chigumbura are the other experienced members.

The return of 24-year-old lanky fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani is a big positive for Zimbabwe. The 6’6” fast bowler Muzarabani will provide a valuable boost to the visitors.

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf is the most successful batsman in the two nation’s bilateral cricket. He scored 1033 runs in 24 ODIs against Zimbabwe, averaging 73.78. He struck three centuries and seven fifties.

Zimbabwe’s ex-skipper Grant Flower scored 906 runs in 30 matches with one hundred and six half-centuries at an average of 34.84.

Zimbabwe’s fast bowler Heath Streak took 35 wickets in 20 matches against Pakistan at the average of 20.65. For Pakistan, Shahid Afridi and Wasim Akram took 34 and 33, respectively.

In the Twenty20 format, opener Ahmed Shahzad scored 265 runs at an average of 53 in just six matches. Masakadza scored 252 runs in 11 matches.

All-rounder Mohammad Hafeez took 13 wickets in seven matches. Chibhabha got six wickets in seven matches.

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