Pakistan Versus Zimbabwe 1st T20i: 5 game-changing players of both sides to watch out for in the 1st match of the Tri-Series
After winning the 50-over series against Asia Cup 2023 runners-up Sri Lanka, the Pakistani Men's National Cricket Team is now set to lock horns with Zimbabwe and Dasun Shanaka's Sri Lanka in a Tri-series which will be played in the Twenty-Twenty format. The opening-firxture of the tri-series event commences on November 18 with Salman Ali Agha's Pakistan and Sikandar Raza-led Zimbabwe taking on each other in Rawalpindi (Rawalpindi Cricket Ground)
On the basis of their recent form and dominance, the Shaheens will enter the tri-series as clear-favourites with former captain Babar Azam and swashbuckling batters like Saim Ayub & Fakhar Zaman in red-hot form. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, will rely heavily on their veteran players, including skipper Sikandar Raza and the highly talented Blessing Muazarabani.
With all the stakes in favor of the Green Shirts, this match is sure to be exciting. Zimbabwe can defeat Pakistan, which they did last year, but a flawless batting and bowling display would be necessary to surpass them.
ZIM vs PAK 1st T20 - Head to Head statistics between the two teams in 20-20 Cricket
In the 21 Twenty-Twenty games that Pakistan and Zimbabwe have played against each other, the Green Shirts hold the advantage, as they have won 18 of them, while the African nation has managed to secre wins in just three encounters.
ZIM vs PAK 1st T20 - 5 game-changing players of both sides to watch out for in the 1st match of the Tri-Series
1. Babar Azam - Former captain of Pakistan Babar has returned to his old-destructive form with the bat and that destructive form was quite evident in the Sri Lanka One-Day International series. He's Pakistan's most trustworthy person on home soil and knows very well how to change the flow of the game and control the inning. In seven 20 over games against Zimbabwe, the 31-year-old batter has amassed 229 runs at an average of 36.65. He has scored these runs at a decent strike-rate of 123.55 with the assistance of three fifties. Keeping in mind his current form, Zimbabwe will have to find ways to stop if they want to have a chance of winning this contest.
2. Brian Bennett - Zimbabwe's young wonderkid Brian Bennett is a special talent. Ever since breaking his way in the International team, he has performed at incredibly consistent levels and he's also the most steady performer of the African nation in the shortest of the game this year. He has scored 1400+ runs in 48 Twenty-Twenty matches at a strike rate of more than 145 and he will surely be a threat to reckon with for the Pakistani bowlers. While he hasn't played against the Green Shirts yet, he's someone who can punish them if the home side take him lightly.
3. Sikandar Raza - Sikandar Raza, the captain of this Zimbabwe side is the backbone of his team and is also the most experienced batsman of the team. He contributed in both departments of the game and loves facing tough challenges. In 10 games, the 39-year-old has amassed 149 runs versus Pakistan, at a poor average of 15.66. The strike rate has been poor as well at 104.45. These statistics are a shy of a person of his calibre. But, with the ball, is where he shines the most.
He has dismissed Pakistani batter five times in nine T20 Internationa innings at an average of 32.50 and a good economy rate of 7.32. His best figures stand at 3-29 versus the 2022 T20 World Cup runners up and if he can find his magic with the ball against them, then the Pakistani batting unit will have a tough time dealing with him.
4. Saim Ayub - Ever since his return from the injury he sufferred against South Africa, we have seen a completely different version of Saim Ayub. He has found a completely new-found version of himself and his ability to smack the big shots at will is something Zimbabwe needs to beware of. He ended the ODI series versus Sri Lanka as the highest run-scorer, scoring 106 runs in three innings at an average of 52 and a strike rate of 148.20. Zimbabwe's bowling-attack will have to deliver a top level performance to stop the dangerous Saim Ayub.
5. Shaheen Shah Afridi - Former T20i skipper of Pakistan Shaheen Afridi is a deadly bowler who batsmen fear. His ability to move the new ball both ways and his toe-crushing yorkers make him a complete bowler. With his excellent wicket-taking abilities, he can easily cause troubles for Zimbabwe with both the new ball and in the death overs.
