HARARE: Pakistan and Zimbabwe are set to face each other in an important one day international (ODI) match in Harare on Monday as the three-match series is leveled now.
The third and the final match of the ODI series between Pakistan and Zimbabwe is scheduled to begin at 12:30 pm as per Pakistan Standard Time (PST) in Harare Sports Club.
Earlier in the second ODI played on Saturday in Harare, Zimbabwe defeated Pakistan by five runs under the Duckworth Lewis Method.
While batting first, Zimbabwe scored 276 runs in 50 overs. In reply, Pakistan had scored 256 runs in 48 overs for 8 with 21 more runs left to win the match. The Pakistani middle order batsman Shoaib Malik and tailender Yasir Shah were at the crease with 96 and 32 runs respectively. But the umpire stopped the match due to bad light and later Zimbabwe was declared winner by five runs under the D/W method.
If Zimbabwe manage to beat Pakistan in the final ODI, it would be their first 50-over series win over a top 10 side other than Bangladesh for more than 14 years.
On the other hand, Pakistan have already come down to number 9 in ICC ODI rankings after the Saturday’s defeat, only a few days after the green shirts qualified for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.
Pakistan third ODI Squad (possible)
Azhar Ali (Captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Muhammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (Wicketkeeper), Muhammad Rizwan, Imad Wasim, Aamer Yamin, Yasir Shah, 10 Wahab Riaz, Muhammad Irfan.
Zimbabwe third ODI Squad (possible)
Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza, Brian Chari, Sean Williams, Elton Chigumbura (Captain), Sikandar Raza, Richmond Mutumbami (Wicketkeeper), Tino Mutombodzi, Luke Jongwe, Tinashe Panyangara, John Nyumbu.
Today’s match will also mark the end of the bilateral series between Pakistan and Zimbabwe which comprised of two Twenty20 and three ODIs.
