Zimbabwe vs Pakistan Tour Prediction

Pakistan, the stronger side, will enjoy home advantage against Zimbabwe returning to international cricket after a hiatus of several months. In this article, we focus on our Zim vs Pak Team Prediction ahead of the first T20I of a series on 7 November 2020 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The Zimbabwe Squad

Zimbabwe’s tour of Pakistan will begin with an ODI on 30 October. Zimbabwe have a full-strength squad featuring such experienced batsmen as Brendon Taylor, skipper Chamu Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura and Sikandar Raza. The team will enjoy the all-round talents of Carl Mumba, Richmond Mutumbami and Tendai Chatara. While Tendai Chatara and Sikandar Raza will lead the seam attack, Craig Ervine will add variety with his off spin.

The Pakistan Squad

Pakistan’s star batsman Babar Azam has been named captain in charge of a full-strength squad. The batting order includes players of the calibre of Fakhar Zaman and Haider Ali and the bowling lineup is bolstered by the presence of Haris Rauf, Md Hasnain, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi and Wahab Riaz in addition to the off spin all-rounder Md Hafeez. Md Rizwan will keep wickets.

Tour Analytics and Odds

Zimbabwe will expect their only hard-hitting batsman, Chigumbura, to replicate the form he enjoyed on the tour of Pakistan in 2009 when he smashed his highest T20I score of 54 and made a 95-ball 117 in an ODI to help Zimbabwe to a score of 334. Injury-prone Chigumbura is returning to the side after a prolonged bad patch since 2015, with only a solitary fifty in ODIs and a single 35-plus score in T20Is made during the period. Zimbabwe will relish the presence of opening batsman Brendon Taylor who made an unbeaten fifty in their last T20I against Bangladesh in March 2020. The team will welcome the return to the squad of lanky fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani. Zimbabwe have a wealth of talent and experience. They will need plenty of belief in their ability against Pakistan in Pakistan.

Pakistan will go into this game full of confidence. They have almost the same squad that played against England in September. All eyes will be on spinner Shadab Khan who was recently made vice-captain.

Pakistan will seek to maintain their flawless head-to-head record against Zimbabwe in T20Is.

Match Predictions

In the first T20I between Pakistan and Zimbabwe on 7 November, we predict that Pakistan will win the match. Here are our cricket betting tips that favour Pakistan to beat Zimbabwe on 1 November 2020:

• Who will win the match? – Pakistan
• Top Batsman (Runs Scored) – Babar Azam (Pak), Brendon Taylor (Zim)
• Top Bowler (Wickets taken) – Shadab Khan (Pak), Sikander Raza (Zim)
• Most Sixes – Md Hafeez (Pak), Brendon Taylor (Zim)
• Man of the Match – Babar Azam
• Team Scores Batting First – Pak 170+, Zim 140+

Summary

Pakistan – Pros

• Talented team, strong in all departments
• Home advantage

Pakistan – Cons

• Continued reliance on aging players such as Wahab Riaz and Md Hafeez
• Inconsistent batting
• Team subjected to frequent chops and changes

Zimbabwe – Pros

• Experienced, full-strength squad

Zimbabwe – Cons

• Returning to cricket against a much stronger opposition