Zimbabwe Seek to Down Pakistan

Harare: Zimbabwe know they must buck their recent trend and get all three departments of their game to fire if they are going to challenge Pakistan in the three-match one-day series that starts on Tuesday.

Having been whitewashed 5-0 by India in a recent series, Brendan Taylor's side showed signs of improvement during two Twenty20 matches against Pakistan last week but still lost comfortably because of their inability to play the perfect game.

While the Zimbabwean batsmen successfully moved on from a horror showing against India, the Pakistani targets proved beyond them because of some lacklustre bowling and fielding - and also the brilliance of Ahmed Shehzad, who scored 168 runs in the two games.

With Pakistan promising to field a full-strength side, the hosts know they will need to get everything right if they are to win a game.

Hamilton Masakadza was restored to the top of the order alongside Vusi Sibanda for the two Twenty20s, and the move brought reward as they put on 50 partnerships in both games.

Mangongo confirmed that the pair would continue to open the batting in the one-day internationals.

Although Pakistan will be strong favourites for another series sweep, captain Misbah-ul-Haq confirmed that they will not be taking Zimbabwe lightly.

Asked whether the tourists might use the series to experiment with different combinations, Misbah said: "I don't think so. Any side at home could be dangerous.

Having been rested for the Twenty20 matches, left-arm seamer Junaid Khan is expected to come into the side on Tuesday, while batsman Asad Shafiq and allrounder Abdur Rehman will also be in contention.

Teams from:

Zimbabwe: Brendan Taylor (Capt. & wk), Regis Chakabva (wk), Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Michael Chinouya, Graeme Cremer, Timycen Maruma, Shingirai Masakadza, Tino Mawoyo, Natsai Mushangwe, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusi Sibanda, Sikandar Raza, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams, Hamilton Masakadza

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (Capt.), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Anwar Ali, Asad Ali, Haris Sohail, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Nasir Jamshed, Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi, Umar Amin, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Abdur Rehman, Asad Shafiq

Stats and trivia

• Pakistan have won 12 of the 15 ODIs they have played in Zimbabwe against the hosts. Zimbabwe were able to win one and tie another, but both those matches were back in 1995

Match facts
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Start time 0930 local (0730 GMT)