Pakistan aim for tour whitewash
Zimbabwe look to salvage pride after Test, ODI losses.
Going by captain Misbahul Haq’s words that he spoke at the start of the tour, Pakistan will aim for a tour whitewash against Zimbabwe by winning the two-match Twenty20 series, the first match of which takes place in Harare today.
Misbah, leading Pakistan for the first time in a full series, said that a whitewash was the perfect parting gift for Waqar Younis, whose journey as coach meets an end after the current tour.
While the Pakistan Cricket Board looks for a replacement after Waqar stated he will step down, Misbah will also look to improve the team’s Twenty20 record, which has seen them lose the last four series - England (2-0), South Africa (2-0), New Zealand (2-1) and West Indies (1-0).
But today, the Pakistan team gets their best chance to end the losing streak and end the tour on a high note before they take on tougher opponents: Sri Lanka in the UAE.
The former World Twenty20 champions, however, will also have to overcome a resistant Zimbabwe outfit who have shown troubled the tourists, albeit in short spells. But short is what the format is and with Zimbabwe looking to salvage pride after losing the one-off Test and the three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), Pakistan have their work cut out.
So far during the series, the hosts have managed to put in bits and pieces of quality but failed to convert it to a victory. Younus Khan, man of the series in the ODIs, admitted Zimbabwe have given Pakistan a tough time. Now it will be up to them to ensure their performance lasts the two innings of international cricket’s shortest format.
Bowling to be key
While Aizaz Cheema, part of Pakistan’s new bowling line-up, has impressed, the pace battery has less to show off about. The absence of Umar Gul, a force in this format of the game, will be felt as Pakistan face the likes of Brendan Taylor, Tatenda Taibu and Elton Chigumbura.
For Pakistan, Mohammad Hafeez and Saeed Ajmal will again be the key players with their off-spinners with the former already being a major threat at the top of the order.
However, with Pakistan’s resolve to test their bench strength, it might also give domestic star Rameez Raja a chance to show his mettle on the international stage.
Pitch to favour spinners
Harare, venue for the second and third ODIs, is likely to have a dry surface with plenty of assistance for the spinners. Ajmal will have already have his eyes lit up and with Zimbabwe boasting of Raymond Price, the new ball is likely to be tossed to the left-armer.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 16th, 2011.