[Pictures] Details announced of Pakistan's tour of Zimbabwe to play T20Is and Tests (2021)

[MenInG]

Lahore, 28 March 2021:

Pakistan will become the first men’s international cricket side to play in Zimbabwe in the post-Covid-19 era when they announced the schedule of their two Test and three T20I series. The Pakistan side will arrive in Harare from Johannesburg on 17 April, where the five matches will take place from 21 April to 11 May with the T20Is to start at 1400 PST and the two Tests will commence at 1230 Pakistan Standard Time.

After the T20Is on 21, 23 and 25 April, Babar Azam’s side will play Zimbabwe in two Tests, the first of which will begin on 29 April. This will mark the first instance of the two sides facing off in the pinnacle format of the game since September 2013. This was also Pakistan’s last Test on Zimbabwean soil.

The second Test will commence on 7 May.

Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Pakistan men’s cricket sides have toured England and New Zealand, besides hosting Zimbabwe and South Africa. Pakistan Shaheens also toured New Zealand alongside the men’s side, while the women’s sides visited South Africa and Zimbabwe, the tour that was curtailed due to suspension in flight operations. Next month, Pakistan U19 squad will tour Bangladesh for a four-day and five 50-over-side matches.

This underscores the Pakistan Cricket Board’s commitment to play an active role in ensuring that international cricket remains on track in these challenging and uncertain times.

Director – International Cricket, Zakir Khan: “The Pakistan Cricket Board has been at the forefront of the revival of international cricket in the post-Covid-19 world and the tour of Zimbabwe is another step in that direction. We have always maintained that cricket and Covid-19 can co-exist in a safe and secure environment, and we continue to demonstrate this to ensure the game develops and flourishes in these difficult and challenging times.

“The tour of our men’s side at the back of our women’s team first-ever visit of Zimbabwe is a testimony that the two boards – the PCB and Zimbabwe Cricket – enjoy excellent relations and are always ready to lend support to each other.

“Our cricket sides have always enjoyed visiting and playing cricket in Zimbabwe, and though our fans and followers will be unable to watch live-action, I am sure they will continue to support both the sides and their favourite cricketers like they have done since May 2020 through digital media.”

Pakistan enjoy 100 per cent win percentage against Zimbabwe in T20Is with victories in all 14 matches. Pakistan have won 10 of the 17 Tests against Zimbabwe with four ending in draw and three in wins for Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe last hosted an international series – a two-Test series against Sri Lanka – in January 2020.

The T20Is and Tests will count towards the ICC Team Rankings.

Pakistan men’s national cricket team for the Zimbabwe tour:

T20I: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Shadab Khan (vice-captain) (Northern), Arshad Iqbal (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Asif Ali (Northern), Danish Aziz (Sindh), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Haider Ali (Northern), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Mohammad Hafeez (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Hasnain (Sindh), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Mohammad Rizwan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sharjeel Khan (Sindh) and Usman Qadir (Central Punjab)

Test: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Abid Ali (Central Punjab), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Imran Butt (Balochistan), Mohammad Nawaz (Northern), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Salman Ali Agha (Southern Punjab), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Sindh), Saud Shakeel (Sindh, subject to fitness), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shahnawaz Dahani (Sindh), Tabish Khan (Sindh) and Zahid Mahmood (Southern Punjab)

Players Support Personnel - Mansoor Rana (Manager), Misbah-ul-Haq (head coach), Abdul Majeed (fielding coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Waqar Younis (bowling coach), Yasir Malik (strength & conditioning coach) and Younis Khan (batting coach).

Zimbabwe tour schedule (T20Is start at 1400 PST, Tests to begin at 1230 PST):

21 April – 1st T20I v Zimbabwe; Harare Sports Club, Harare
23 April – 2nd T20I v Zimbabwe; Harare Sports Club, Harare
25 April – 3rd T20I v Zimbabwe; Harare Sports Club, Harare
29 April-3May – 1st Test v Zimbabwe; Harare Sports Club, Harare
7-11 May – 2nd Test v Zimbabwe; Harare Sports Club, Harare

 

[Saj]

Fill yer boots boys.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Fill yer boots boys.

Lets hope players can find form before we play bigger series after this.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan cricket selectors, as part of their strategy to keep all the leading performers involved in the system, have invited six additional players who will participate in the training camp for the Test players, which commences at the Gaddafi Stadium on 10 April.

These six players are: Irfan Ullah Shah (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Naseem Shah (Central Punjab), Rohail Nazir (Northern), Sameen Gul (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Taj Wali (Balochistan), Waqas Maqsood (Central Punjab).

In the training camp held prior to the side’s departure for Johannesburg, the selectors had invited seven additional players so that the coaches would work on their development. Separately, a high performance training camp for 25 players not involved in the HBL Pakistan Super League 6, was held at the National High Performance Centre but it had to be closed due to a rise in Covid-19 cases.

The Test players’ camp will run under a bio-secure environment from 11-20 April before the 11 players will depart for Harare on 21 April to join other members of the side. The two Tests will be played in Harare from 29 April-3 May and 7-11 May.

The camp will be held under the supervision of National High Performance coaches, including Saqlain Mushtaq (head of player development), Mohammad Yousuf (batting coach), Mushtaq Ahmed (spin bowling coach), Umer Rasheed (fast bowling coach) and Atiq-uz-Zaman (wicketkeeping/fielding coach), Javed Sheikh (Strength & Conditioning Coach), Tahir (Physiotherapist) and a masseur.

Harare-bound Test players to attend camp are:

Abid Ali (Central Punjab), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Imran Butt (Balochistan), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Salman Ali Agha (Southern Punjab), Saud Shakeel (Sindh, subject to fitness), Shahnawaz Dahani (Sindh), Tabish Khan (Sindh) and Zahid Mahmood (Southern Punjab)

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Good to see Sameen Gul in , hope he joins the test squad..

 

[shamaan]

Good to see irfanullah shah thier and waqar maqsood

 

[MenInG]

Roy Kaia is once again the toast of town and is ready for another dance with the Chevrons.

Calls for the rhumba-loving cricketer to be included in the Zimbabwe Cricket squad to face Pakistan keep getting louder with each passing day.

He has, however, left it all in the hands of the selectors.

The Logan Cup and National Premier League titles should put him in good standing.

But who is Roy Kaia?

Kaia made his international debut during Zimbabwe’s historic tour of Pakistan in 2015, featuring in the abandoned third One Day International.

In his debut, he neither bowled nor batted as the game was called off due to bad weather. In that game, Zimbabwe made a formidable start in pursuit of Pakistan’s 296 for nine, before the game, which was played at the Gaddafi Stadium, went through a catalogue of delays that prevented it from progressing beyond the ninth over of the second innings.

Since then, Kaia has not received a call-up for national duty.

However, his team, Rocks, were crowned champions of the Logan Cup — Zimbabwe’s first-class cricket competition.

The 29-year-old was crowned the Man of the Series, and this is on top of finishing as the tournament’s top run-getter with 374 runs from four innings.

He was also crowned the best bowler, finishing with 12 wickets.

“I feel very honoured to be crowned man of the tournament,” said Kaia, who is also the reigning National Premier League MVP.

He is aware of fans calling for his inclusion in the Chevrons squad, to which he says: “I have to leave it to the selectors if I get picked. I have been performing every season; I guess luck has not been on my side.”

Before the start of the 2019/20 domestic cricket season, Kaia had an option to skip the season and play club cricket in New Zealand.

He opted to try once more, perhaps as a leap of faith.

“I believe it was God’s call to play one more season in Zimbabwe,” he said.

Sadly, the 2020/21 season was disrupted by the pandemic, but during the lockdown, Roy and his younger brother and Rocks’ teammate, Innocent, remained focused.

“Truly speaking, hard work pays. I have been working behind closed doors with my brother Innocent, and I wasn’t shocked with the way we performed,” he said of Innocent, who finished as the Logan Cup’s second-highest run-scorer with 368 runs from four innings.

“I wasn’t surprised (by our performance) because we had put so many hours into training,” added Kaia.

With two five-wicket hauls in the season, he could be more than a part-timer.

“As a batting all-rounder, I understand how to bowl in certain situations using different lengths and variations.”

Another feather to his colourful cap is a fourth consecutive Logan Cup title, a feat he shares with Rocks’ coach Shepherd Makunura, teammates William Mashinge and Innocent Kaia.

All are former Mountaineers, where they won three consecutive titles.

“I am very impressed with the way the boys played throughout the tournament; we played as a team, and most of the credit goes to our coaches Stanley Chioza and Shepherd.”

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what Kaia wants next.

When he scored his century against Rhinos, he pointed to his bat and made a “talking” gesture with his batting glove.

Questioned over said incident, the 29-year-old retorted: “It was a sign to say let the bat talk, and not the mouth. Statistics don’t lie.”

https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/kaia-toast-of-the-town

 

[MenInG]

All players involved in the Test camp have tested negative for Covid-19 and the camp will commence today at the GSL

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

This is going to be a really boring series. But if anything, I hope the boys use it as an opportunity to boost their averages.

 

[MenInG]

Pictures (courtesy of the PCB) of the ongoing training camp for Test players, ahead of the tour of Zimbabwe

 

[Mamoon]

Pakistan vs Zimbabwe has been a hotly contested rivalry over the last few years.

Time for Pakistan to avenge the 2013 humiliation as well the recent humiliation in the third ODI in Lahore.

We were also set to lose against them in 2015 in the third ODI before rain saved the day for us.

Let’s see if Pakistan prevails this time in the new El-Classico of cricket.

 

[Shazzam]

This could be a interesting series between two titans of cricket. I expect Zimbabve to bring in there A game against Pakistan. Holding nothing back. At home they are a top class team. No way will this be a easy contest for Misbah and his men.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

This could be a interesting series between two titans of cricket. I expect Zimbabve to bring in there A game against Pakistan. Holding nothing back. At home they are a top class team. No way will this be a easy contest for Misbah and his men.

It’ll be a breath of fresh air after taking on the likes of Eng, NZ and just recently SA. I reckon the test players will welcome this change lol, really hoping Zahid Mehmood comes in place of Yasir or give Sajid a try.

 

[MenInG]

The benefit of experience - but can our players make use of it?

 

[TheNightWatchman]

Is Pakistan the only team that plays Zimbabwe? I mean the other lower ranked teams don't play Zimbabwe as much as Pakistan does. SL? WI? Bangladesh will occasionally play

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Is Pakistan the only team that plays Zimbabwe? I mean the other lower ranked teams don't play Zimbabwe as much as Pakistan does. SL? WI? Bangladesh will occasionally play

Let them be active besides who else can you play right now with teams being busy with the IPL???

 

[ElRaja]

Is Pakistan the only team that plays Zimbabwe? I mean the other lower ranked teams don't play Zimbabwe as much as Pakistan does. SL? WI? Bangladesh will occasionally play

pakistan last played tests against zimbabwe 8 years ago, the issue is the other top teams dont play zimbabwe enough.

 

[MenInG]

Change of travel plans for Zahid Mahmood as per PCB:

He will travel on 21st April with Test squad to Zimbabwe - he was earlier supposed to join the T20 squad in Zimbabwe.

 

[MenInG]

Change of travel plans for Zahid Mahmood as per PCB:

He will travel on 21st April with Test squad to Zimbabwe - he was earlier supposed to join the T20 squad in Zimbabwe.

And the reason for that as per media report:

Lahore: Leg-spinner Zahid Mehmood has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe, ARY Sports reported.

According to details, during the second day of the Zimbabwe-bound training camp, the 33-year-old’s health deteriorated as his body got heated due to extremely hot weather of Lahore.

After first aid, Zahid Mehmood’s condition improved. His departure schedule to Zimbabwe has been changed now and he will travel with the players of the squad.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Change of travel plans for Zahid Mahmood as per PCB:

He will travel on 21st April with Test squad to Zimbabwe - he was earlier supposed to join the T20 squad in Zimbabwe.

Hmmm who to play???? Sajid Khan or even Nuaman ali as a one off??? Dhahani maybe or bring in Imad Wasim?

 

[MenInG]

Practice match of Zimbabwe-bound Test players along with six additional players underway at the GSL.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Practice match of Zimbabwe-bound Test players along with six additional players underway at the GSL.

View attachment 108574View attachment 108575View attachment 108576View attachment 108577

Scores?

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Can anyone confirm whether the scores below in today's practise game are true?

Fawad Alam unbeaten on 103* in practice match at Gaddafi Stadium

Agha Salman 74
Abid Ali 33
Azhar Ali 26
Imran Butt 24

2 wickets for Zahid Mehmood, 1 wicket each for Shahnawaz Dahani and Waqas Maqsood

 

[MenInG]

Pictures courtesy of the PCB - Sajid Khan with Saqlain Mushtaq

 

[MenInG]

More pictures from today's practice

 

[MenInG]

THE Pakistan cricket team is expected to arrive in Harare on Saturday ahead of their tour of Zimbabwe for two Test matches and three Twenty20 international (T20I) games at Harare Sports Club.

The visitors are in South Africa for a limited overs series that concludes on Friday.

First up are the T20I series, which begin on Wednesday next week then on April 23 and 25.

The first Test match is scheduled to run from April 29 to May 3, with the second set for May 7-11.

As part of measures to minimise the spread of Covid-19, the series will be held in a bio-secure bubble, which simply refers to an environment that is aimed at keeping the teams relatively isolated from the outside world.

As a result, only those directly involved in the tour, that is the players, technical staffers, match officials and those offering the necessary support services, are the only people who will be permitted access to the stadium and the hotel accommodating the teams. This will see both Zimbabwe and Pakistan players and support staff undergoing several Covid-19 tests during the tour.

https://www.chronicle.co.zw/pakistan-cricket-team-set-to-jet-into-harare-on-saturday/

 

[Mean&Green]

Please cancel this low level d grade tour seriously two tests against Zimbabwe is shameful. Even Zimbabwe doesn’t want to play with Zimbabwe anymore why are we playing against them

 

[Sunzi]

Still on FreeSports in the UK?

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Still on FreeSports in the UK?

yes mate, the app has been acting funny for me so you may need to watch it on the telly.

 

[Sunzi]

yes mate, the app has been acting funny for me so you may need to watch it on the telly.

Thanks dude - appreciated!

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Thanks dude - appreciated!

Yep channel 422 i believe it's coming on, you can check the FreeSports schedule for start times or Cricinfo.

Let me know if you are able to watch it on your PC or your phone as I'm unable to watch with the mobile app or the laptop recently.