Focus switches to ODI battle THE PLACARD SAYS IT ALL . . . A Pakistan fan shows his passion and shares his thoughts about Zimbabwe’s landmark tour to his country
THE PLACARD SAYS IT ALL . . . A Pakistan fan shows his passion and shares his thoughts about Zimbabwe’s landmark tour to his country

THE PLACARD SAYS IT ALL . . . A Pakistan fan shows his passion and shares his thoughts about Zimbabwe’s landmark tour to his country

LAHORE. — Neither Pakistan nor Zimbabwe had the World Cup they would have wanted but for one of them, the aftermath was worse. Pakistan went from a tournament in which their batsmen consistently let their potent pacers down, to a series where the same happened, except that the attack had also lost some of its zip.

Their 3-0 whitewash at the hands of Bangladesh has left them ninth in the ODI rankings – which would mean, as things stand, they would miss out on the 2017 Champions Trophy – and anything other than a 3-0 win over Zimbabwe will see them drop points.

Although they have the safety of knowing that even if that happens, they won’t slide any further down the rankings because Ireland are far behind on just 50 points, it will widen the gap between them, on 87 points, and West Indies and Bangladesh, who are on 88 points each, which means there is a lot more on this for Pakistan. As is the case for Zimbabwe, who are a distant 11th on the rankings on 45 points and who are aiming to become a top-eight team in time to automatically qualify for the 2019 World Cup.

The only way to do that will be for Zimbabwe to start winning.

Admirable as their competitive efforts have been since Dav Whatmore took over – and their improvement has been apparent as they stay in games for longer and take them deeper – it has not translated into success yet. If that does not change soon, Zimbabwe’s World Cup aftermath could go the same way as Pakistan’s.

If Vusi Sibanda thought his relationship with the pull shot was rocky, he must know now is the time to consider divorce.

He was out both times in the T20s playing the stroke, although he had made 49 runs before bringing it out the second time, which would have given some confidence ahead of the ODIs.

Sibanda must know this is possibly his last chance to establish himself in the team after a patchy past record, which saw him dropped twice in the last year.

This tour is the first of a busy winter for Zimbabwe and they will be using it to nail down the group of players they want to work with in future.

Sibanda has usually been part of that group but if he wants to stay in it, the runs must come and the pull must go.

Sibanda should return to the top of the order, as he did in the T20s for a first ODI and may be partnered by Chamu Chibhabha with Hamilton Masakadza at No.3.

Although Charles Coventry is only part of Zimbabwe’s long-term T20 plans, he may be used at No.4, unless Zimbabwe are brave enough to give their debutant Roy Kaia a run. The pace pack could see Chris Mpofu bowl alongside Tinashe Panyangara and Brian Vitori.

Stats and trivia

Zimbabwe have never won an ODI series against Pakistan and have only beaten them three times in 48 meetings, the most recent in 2013.

Wahab Riaz is Pakistan’s leading bowler this year, with 20 wickets from 10 matches. He is 14 scalps behind the leader, Mitchell Starc, but may want to use this series to gain some ground. — Cricinfo.

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