LAHORE: After back to back win in short-format T20 cricket Pakistan all set to face guest Zimbabwe for three-match one series of whom first match will be played today at Qaddafi Stadium Lahore.
The green shirts must have to win all three matches for qualifying champions trophy.
Pakistan won the Twenty20 series 2-0 Sunday in front of a packed audience of 27,000 at the stadium.
Pakistan s one-day captain Azhar Ali, who did not feature in the Twenty20s, said the huge excitement surrounding the tour had helped the team forget its disastrous 3-0 ODI drubbing in Bangladesh last month.
Pakistan have persisted with spinning allrounder Shoaib Malik and paceman Mohammad Sami, both of whom featured in the T20s, in the one-day squad after a break of two and three years respectively.
Opener Ahmed Shehzad also returns after being left out of the Bangladesh tour over what was termed an attitude problem.
For Zimbabwe, the series represents another shot at ruining Pakistan s homecoming party after they threatened to close out both Twenty20s but eventually lost in crucial passages of play at the death.
Zimbabwe will miss the services of ace batsman Brendan Taylor who quit international cricket to take a three-year contract with England county Nottinghamshire.
Captain Elton Chigumbura admitted Taylor and paceman Tendai Chatara — not on the tour with a broken leg — will be missed but said his team will try to overcome the loss.
Middle-order batsman Craig Ervine is likely to play after missing both the Twenty20 matches due to flu.
Pakistan have won 43 of the 48 one-day matches between the two sides with Zimbabwe winning three while one match each ended in a tie and no result.
The matches will be held on on May 26, 29 and 31.
Teams (from):
Pakistan: Azhar Ali (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Anwar Ali, Hammad Azam, Imad Wasim, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami, Junaid Khan.
Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (capt), Sikandar Raza, Chamu Chibhabha, Charles Coventry, Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Roy Kaia, Hamilton Masakadza, Christopher Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa, Richmond Mutumbami, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusi Sibanda, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Sean Williams.
Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Russell Tiffin (ZIM).
TV umpire: Ahmed Shahab.
Match referee: Azhar Khan (PAK).
