New Delhi: Pakistan will face hosts Zimbabwe in the first T20I of the upcoming three-match T20I series. The Falcons suffered a shocking defeat in the first ODI match. However, Pakistan made a remarkable comeback in the series, thumping the hosts in the subsequent encounters.
Subsequently, moving on to the T20I series, the Zimbabwean team would be keen to avenge their ODI defeat. The onus of the team’s success against a giant team like Pakistan will be on the senior players of Zimbabwe, like Wesley Madhevere, Sikandar Raza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, and Ryan Burl.
On the other hand, the Pakistani cricket team will rely on the versatility of skipper Agha Salman who can stun any home team with his all-round prowess. Apart from the captain, Sahibzada Farhan, Abbas Afridi and Haris Rauf are expected to play crucial roles for Pakistan.
Average statistics in Bulawayo
| Criterion | Data |
| Matches Played | 19 |
| Matches won batting first | 13 |
| Matches won batting second | 6 |
| Average 1st innings score | 154 |
| Average 2nd innings score | 130 |
| Average runs per over | 7.29 |
What is the pitch report of Queens Sports Club Bulawayo?
The surface at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo generally doesn’t offer significant lateral movement to the fast bowlers with the new ball. However, the pitch might be a bit tacky, with the pacers hitting the deck and employing more cutters to succeed at this venue. Anything pitched up will go the distance, so it will be important for the seamers to hit the hard length area.
Meanwhile, run-scoring might get difficult as the game progresses. The spinners will get a hint of turn and trouble the batters in the middle overs. With the sun beating down, the track might deteriorate and get tougher for batting in the latter half. So, because the teams setting the target have won 13 out of 19 T20I matches in Bulawayo, the toss-winner might opt to bat first.