KARACHI:Zimbabwe have never beaten Pakistan in a T20I, but after a confidence-boosting Super Over win in the final ODI, the visitors will hope to make more impact in the shortest format of the game.
All eyes are on Zimbabwe as they head into the T20I series on the back of a stunning performance in the final ODI on November 8. They took the game into the Super Over for their first win in Pakistan in any format since 1998.
There were quite a few positives for the visitors from the ODI series: Two batsmen, Brendan Taylor and Seal Williams, made hundreds, while Blessing Muzarabani topped the wickets chart with seven in the three games, including a five-wicket haul.
Pakistan are slowly back on the rise after a blip in the T20I format. They beat Bangladesh at home 2-0 early in the year before leveling the three-match series against England. These came after they lost every T20I series they played in 2019, losing their No.1 position in the ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings.
They continue to be without the injured Shadab Khan. Imad Wasim and Ifthikar Ahmed will likely continue in the spin department. Zimbabwe’s up and coming all-rounder Wesley Madhevere had a solid ODI series and will be keenly watched again.
The last time when these teams met in Harare in 2018 for a T20I series, Hamilton Masakadza was the Zimbabwe captain and Sarfaraz Ahmed led the Pakistan side. Leadership aside, a lot has changed for both teams. Zimbabwe have built a strong bowling core, while Pakistan have impressive young talent coming through in all departments.