Pakistan vs Zimbabwe – 1st T20 International Preview & Prediction

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THE FACTS

When is Pakistan vs Zimbabwe taking place? Saturday, 7th November, 2020 – 10:30 (UK)

Where is Pakistan vs Zimbabwe taking place? Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

What is the expected weather for Pakistan vs Zimbabwe? 28c sunny

What channel is Pakistan vs Zimbabwe on? The match will not be televised live in the UK

Where can I stream Pakistan vs Zimbabwe? The match will not be streamed live in the UK

Where can I get tickets for Pakistan vs Zimbabwe? This match will be played without spectators

LAST MEETING
Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 7 wickets

THE TEAM NEWS

PAKISTAN

• Pakistan come into this three-match T20 series eager to kick on from their 1-1 draw in England in August and they will be somewhat frustrated by their Super Over defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe in the final one-day international despite winning the series 2-1.
• The line-up is not expected to be that different from the ODI side but Shadab Khan will return to the side as vice-captain in this format while it will be interesting to see if Abdullah Shafique is given a chance at the top of the order after impressing in the recent National Cup.
• If they do not go with the youngster to open with Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman will be handed another chance and the veteran is under some pressure to keep his place as the competition for places in the Pakistani camp is extremely strong right now.

ZIMBABWE

• Zimbabwe were elated with their Super Over win in the one-day international dead rubber and despite having lost the series already, they were unconcerned by that and competed hard to get the morale-boosting victory.
• They will start with many of the same players that played that game in this opening T20 match in Rawalpindi but there remain concerns over their top order as their opening partnership managed scores of just 0, 18 and 2 in the three ODIs.
• They have played two T20 matches earlier this year back in March but they lost both to Bangladesh and with no wins in any of their previous 11 T20 matches against Pakistan, they will be focused on just competing as well as they can and potentially carry some momentum over from that ODI victory.

THE PREDICTION

Pakistan were stunned in their final one-day international as Zimbabwe beat them on a Super Over and that will have rankled with them ahead of this three-match T20 series. That may only serve to motivate them even more so for this game as they look to bounce back here. The intensity of the T20 format will suit them here as there were signs of them easing off the gas a little in the ODI matches with both bat and ball so that will help them. Zimbabwe’s top order struggles continued even in the game they won, but their middle order of Ervine, Taylor, Williams and the two all-rounders Sikandar Raza and Wesley Madhevere is in excellent form right now. With fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani taking five wickets in the last ODI, he will be full of confidence coming into this game also and the bowling unit will hope to build on their last performance. That may still not be quite enough however against Pakistan as the hosts will be fired up here to get an opening win. With skipper Babar Azam in good form and somewhat wounded after that loss, expect fireworks from him to lead them to victory.