New Delhi: Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening match of the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo Athletic Club in Bulawayo on Sunday. The Men in Green have a brilliant head-to-head record in T20Is against Zimbabwe, winning 16 out of 18 matches, including a memorable victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 by just one run.
However, Zimbabwe enter the T20I series with a brilliant momentum and are unbeaten in their last five T20I matches, including a sensational campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier.
On the other side, Pakistan had a difficult year in T20Is as Babar and co. marked by their first-ever group-stage exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 after losing two back-to back matches against the USA and India. They also lost a T20I series against Australia by 3-0.
Earlier, Pakistan won the third ODI by 99 runs against Zimbabwe on Thursday and secured the series by 2-1. Despite an early loss in the first ODI, Pakistan made a brilliant comeback and won the next ODI matches.
Why Salman Agha is captaining Pakistan in T20I series vs Zimbabwe?
Salman Agha is captaining Pakistan in the first T20 against Zimbabwe as the regular captain Mohammad Rizwan is rested for the series. Likes of Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi are also rested from the T20I series against Zimbabwe as The Men in Green are scheduled to play 3 T20Is, 3 ODIs and two Tests against South Africa starting from December 10.
Playing XI of Pakistan and Zimbabwe for 1st T20I
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Usman Khan (wk), Omair Bin Yousuf, Salman Agha (c), Tayyab Tahir, Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, and Haris Rauf.
Zimbabwe: Brain Bennett, Ryan Burl, Trevor Gwandu, Clive Madande, Tawandanashe Marumani (wk), Tashinga Musekiwa, Richard Ngarava, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c), Wellington Masakadza
Know why Salman Agha is captaining Pakistan in the first T20I against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo Athletic Club in Bulawayo. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
