Pakistan Start As Favourites For Zimbabwe One-Dayers Today
BULAWAYO: After crushing Zimbabwe in the two-Test series, Pakistan is looking to continue the same dominant form in the five match One-day International series that begins from Saturday (today) in Bulawayo.
Pakistan which is due to play ten one-dayers on the trot against Zimbabwe and South Africa in the next 20 days is expected to use these matches to finally confirm a combination for the World Cup.
And they definitely start off as favourites to also clinch the back-to-back one-dayers on Saturday and Sunday against the hosts who are missing three of their key bowlers Heath Streak, Travis Friend and Douglas Hondo through injuries.
Pakistan on the other hand has only worries about a knee injury to fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar but they still have a lot of options for the One-dayers after Wasim Akram and Azhar Mehmood also joined the team in Bulawayo.
**With bowlers like Wasim, Muhammad Zahid, Muhammad Sami, Azhar Mehmood and Saqlain Mushtaq available at his disposal, Waqar should face no problems fielding a sharp attack even in the absence of Shoaib Akhtar.
The Pakistan team is expected to try a different opening combination for the one-dayers as the selectors had selected different teams for the tests and one-dayers. The hard hitting Shahid Afridi should open with Taufeeq Umar although there are also chances of wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal doing this job as he has opened at the domestic level in limited overs matches.**
In contrast Zimbabwe are badly weakened by injuries. Regular captain and leading bowler Heath Streak has been out of action since he dislocated his shoulder in a traffic accident during the Champions Trophy in Colombo in September.
Pacemen Douglas Hondo and Travis Friend have not played since that tournament due to a shoulder injury and a stress fracture of the leg respectively. “They are three of our main bowlers, and we are definitely missing their contribution,” Zimbabwe Cricket Union managing director Vince Hogg said.
There are doubts whether batsman Mark Vermeulen, who dislocated a finger while fielding in his debut Test in Bulawayo, which Pakistan won by 10 wickets on Tuesday, will be fit for the weekend’s matches.
Pakistan Squad: Waqar Younis (Capt), Taufeeq Umar, Saleem Elahi, Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Inzamamul Haq, Yousaf Youhana, Faisal Iqbal, Azhar Mehmood, Kamran Akmal, Wasim Akram, Muhammad Zahid, Muhammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar and Saqlain Mushtaq.
Zimbabwe Squad: Alistair Campbell (captain), Stuart Matsikenyeri, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Barney Rodgers, Guy Whittall, Tatenda Taibu, Andy Blignaut, Craig Evans, Mluleki Nkala, Henry Olonga, Richard Sims, Waddington Mwayenga, Campell MacMillan, Sean Ervine, Mark Vermeulen.
