Zimbabwe vs Pakistan, 1st ODI Match Prediction – Who will win Pakistan or Zimbabwe?

Will Pakistan go all out or will Sarfraz want to experiment that's the question for the series.

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Pakistan team. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Pakistan are spending quite some time in the Zimbabwean winter. Having won the T20I tri-series it has been a pleasant stay for them. Come the ODI series and they continue to remain the favourites. The hosts did put up some fight in the T20s but it was never threatening enough. A depleted Zimbabwe will take on an exuberant Pakistan and the outcome isn’t tough to predict.

However, a five-match series will give Hamilton Masakadza and his team some scope to find an energy resource inside them or a reservoir that can push them to a rather inspiring win. On the other hand, it can be too draining and exhaustive if Pakistan are clinical all the way through.

Pitch

The fact that all the five matches will be played at Bulawayo suggests that the pitch will be hard to start with. Traditionally it has been a flat and a good batting wicket. However, it also tends to get drier and assist the spinners. It is winter in Zimbabwe and it will be cool.

Team Combinations

Zimbabwe:

For skipper Masakadza it is about making the most out of the players he has at his disposal. Zimbabwe aren’t playing their full strength squad as five of their top players have kept themselves out due to the ongoing pay tussle with Zimbabwe Cricket.

The fact that Solomon Mire their best batsman isn’t available for the series owing to an injury will hurt Zimbabwe the most. He had scored a couple of half centuries in the T20I series where most other batsmen were well below ordinary. With three new faces in the line-up, it is really difficult to predict the kind of XI they will pick for the match.

Zimbabwe Squad: Brian Chari, Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Tendai Chisoro, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Hamilton Masakadza (C), Wellington Masakadza, Peter Moor, Ryan Murray (wk), Tarisai Musakanda, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Liam Roche, Donald Tiripano, Malcolm Waller

Pakistan

If at all Pakistan have a problem, that’s the problem of plenty. Fakhar Zaman is getting them the runs at the top and consistently. He is also showing the willingness to bat through and learn from his mistakes which is a boon for the team. The likes of Imam and Babar have been consistent in ODI cricket and so has Shoaib Malik.

Skipper Sarfraz will want to get his act together with the bat and be the torchbearer for the lower order. For Pakistan to get a late push he has to be there and get the big runs. As far as the bowling department is concerned they might field leg-spinner Yasir Shah who last played an ODI nearly two years ago. They have Shadab in the line-up but Shah gives them the luxury.

Apart from that, the fast bowling has a solid look with Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf who should be able to shoot down the paltry Zimbabweans without much ado.

Predicted XI: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed (C & wk), Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Yasir Shah

The Prediction is for Pakistan to win the match and take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Scenario 1

Toss: Pakistan wins and elects to bat
Predicted score: 260-280
Result: Pakistan Wins by 60 runs

Scenario 2

Toss: Zimbabwe wins and elects to bat
Predicted score: 220-240
Result: Pakistan win by 6 wickets

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