HARARE: Following their winning streak of a Test and three ODI's in Zimbabwe earlier this month, the touring Pakistan team will not ease up on their hosts in the two Twenty-20 matches that follow, for it is not in their nature.
They were opening up Friday at Harare Sports Club and will finally close out their tour on Sunday.
The Zimbabweans went down in the final ODI against here Wednesday by 28 runs, close enough for Pakistan to want to be at or near their best. Especially as it will be the last weekend as national coach for Waqar Younis, who has other career plans and who will want a good send-off.
Pakistan have been advertising for a replacement and say they will appoint the best available wherever he comes from.
Pakistanis must begin clear favourites to win both the last matches. They have all round advantage, not least the necessary experience in this form of the game.
However, their record is poor. During the last year they have been beaten by West Indies, New Zealand, South Africa and England, giving an eclectic score of 7-0 against. They only scored 79 runs against the Windies.
Zimbabwe's last experience of a Twenty-20 series was against South Africa, when they went down 2-0. These two have not yet met in Twenty-20 cricket.
Although the record books don't support it, Zimbabwe believe they could just overturn the form book.
The home team bring in Charles Coventry, who once scored 194 not out in an ODI. And they give a debut to Zhuwayo. Pakistan are resting Younis Khan and Imran Farhat.
Zimbabwe won the toss and decided to bowl.
The teams:
ZIMBABAWE - Brendan Taylor (capt), Justice Chibhabha, Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu (wk), Charles Coventry, Zhuwayo, Elton Chigumbura, Ray Price, Kyle Jarvis, Chris Mpofu
PAKISTAN - Misbah ul Haq (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Rameez Raja, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal (wk), Sohail Tanveer, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Khan, Yasir Shah, Aziz Cheema
UMPIRES: Russell Tiffin (ZIM) Jeremiah Matibiri (ZIM)
TV UMPIRE: Owen Chirombe
MATCH REFEREE: David Boon (AUS)
Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011
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