Zimbabwe vs Pakistan, Zim vs Pak 2024, Today Match Prediction 24 November 2024

ZIM vs PAK Match Prediction & Analysis

Zimbabwe will be hosting Pakistan for a 3-match ODI series followed by a 3-match T20I series. The last time they played a one-day international game was back in January of 2024 on their tour of Sri Lanka where they lost the series 0-2.

And when Ireland toured Zimbabwe in December of 2023, the hosts could not win a single game and lost 0-2. In the last 4 years, Zimbabwe have played 6 home series and won just two.

Pakistan are coming to Zimbabwe without some of their key regulars. There will be no Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah in their squad for Zimbabwe ODIs.

Mohammad Rizwan will be a confident captain after his success in Australia and has a new challenge at hand as Pakistan fields a different bowling attack than what they did down under.

RECENT PERFORMANCE

ZIM

L L L L

SL

97/2 in 16.4 5.82

ZIM vs SL 2024

Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by 8 wickets 11 Jan 2024

ZIM

96/10 in 22.5 4.2

SL

211/8 in 49.0 4.31

ZIM vs SL 2024

Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by 2 wickets 08 Jan 2024

ZIM

208/10 in 44.4 4.66

ZIM

197/10 in 40.0 4.92

ZIM vs IRE 2023

Ireland beat Zimbabwe by 7 wickets (D/L) method 17 Dec 2023

IRE

204/3 in 37.5 5.39

ZIM

166/10 in 42.5 3.88

ZIM vs IRE 2023

Ireland beat Zimbabwe by 4 wickets 15 Dec 2023

IRE

170/6 in 40.1 4.23

PAK

W W L

AUS

140/10 in 31.5 4.4

PAK vs AUS 2024

Pakistan beat Australia by 8 wickets 10 Nov 2024

PAK

143/2 in 26.5 5.33

AUS

163/10 in 35.0 4.66

PAK vs AUS 2024

Pakistan beat Australia by 9 wickets 08 Nov 2024

PAK

169/1 in 26.3 6.38

AUS

204/8 in 33.3 6.09

PAK vs AUS 2024

Australia won by 2 wkts 04 Nov 2024

PAK

203/10 in 46.4 4.35

HEAD TO HEAD

TEAMS PREVIEW

Zimbabwe Preview

Zimbabwe have lost 4 of their last 6 ODI matches while the rest ended without a result. Their recent home record has been quite disappointing as well. Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza, and Sean Williams are the senior, experienced players in this squad.

The 3 will be crucial with the bat and Raza plays a key role with the ball too. In the bowling department, the hosts will be looking up to Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngrava to lead the attack.

There aren’t other promising bowlers in this squad. Trevor Gwandu hasn’t made his ODI debut yet while Faraz Akram has played 2 ODIs and averages 51 with the ball.

The right-arm leg break bowler Brandon Mavuta who’s got 10 wickets from 12 matches at an average of 34.9 is the best option after Muzrabani and Ngrava in this squad.

There is no Madhevere in this side for this series. He was an up-and-coming all-rounder who impressed everyone with his bowling against Pakistan but faltered as time went on.

In the all-rounders' department, two players are yet to make their ODI debut and it will be down to Sikandar Raza to deliver a few good overs.

In the batting lineup, the aforementioned 3 most experienced players will hold the key to a competitive total. Batting all-rounder Tinotenda Maposa is an uncapped player and will be one to watch out for.

Zimbabwe Predicted Playing XI:

Tadiwanashe Marumani, Craig Ervine (c), Dion Myers, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Clive Madande (wk), Tinotenda Maposa, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngrava, Brandon Mavuta, Faraz Akra

Zimbabwe Actual Playing XI:

Craig Ervine, Brian Bennett, Sean Williams, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Joylord Gumbie, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Sikandar Raza, Trevor Gwandu, Brandon Mavuta

Pakistan Preview

Mohammad Rizwan will be hopeful of another series win in Zimbabwe as they come here on the back of a brilliant performance down under. While Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique will continue to open the innings for Pakistan in this series, they will have a new number 3 in the absence of Babar Azam.

Could Tayyab Tahir make his ODI debut in this match or will Rizwan promote one of his lower middle-order batters to number 3? Rizwan is a great option for number 3 himself.

The openers are in fine touch and will be the key batters to watch out for in this lineup. The all-rounders Kamran Ghulam and Agha Salman didn’t bat in Pakistan’s last two wins against Australia.

And when they did in the first match of that series which Pakistan lost, their performances were underwhelming. These two have a lot to play for. They will be expected to prove their mettle on this tour.

Another all-rounder who will be monitored closely by the Pakistan selectors is Irfan Khan in the lower middle order. It is a deep batting order with plenty of strong batting options. Rizwan along with the two openers will hold the key to a big score for Pakistan.

Haris Rauf will be leading the bowling attack. The likes of Shahnawaz Dahani and Mohammad Hasnain will be the other key pacers in this side. This pace trio is as good as it gets and should pose a tough challenge to the hosts.

Pakistan Predicted Playing XI:

Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Kamran Ghulam, Agha Salman, Irfan Khan, Shahnawaz Dahani, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain

Pakistan Actual Playing XI:

Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Agha Salman, Mohammad Rizwan, Irfan Khan, Aamer Jamal, Kamran Ghulam, Haseebullah Khan, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

It will be a cloudy day in Bulawayo with a high of 27 degrees Celsius. Though there are no predictions of rain for the match day, the cloud cover should help the seamers with the new ball.

ZIM vs PAK Pitch Report

It is a batting-friendly surface with an average 1st innings score of 251 runs in the last 10 ODI matches here. The highest score successfully chased down at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo is 311 runs. We reckon there are plenty of runs on offer on this surface and the team batting first should be aiming for something around 300 runs to be in a comfortable position.

Toss: To Bat

Teams batting first have won 6 of the last 10 ODIs played at this venue in Bulawayo. It is a good venue for batting and both teams will find it a safe option to have runs on the board than chasing down a competitive total.