Pakistan vs Zimbabwe 1st test match begins today
After beating the hosts in T20 and ODI series, Pakistan will take on Zimbabwe in the first Test of the two-match series at Harare today. The match will start at 1:00pm (PST).
Pakistan last played a Test match in February. In that series, against South Africa, they were blanked 0-3.
Before that, they lost a series to Sri Lanka.
They’ll know this is their best chance to begin to correct their record of the past year, and if they do pull off a 2-0 win they’ll gain two ranking points, widening the gap between themselves at No.
4 and Australia at 5.
They’ll be quietly confident of doing just that, with the shock loss in the first ODI a fast-fading memory given the two easy victories they registered thereafter.
They had few problems cruising to a seven-wicket win the last time their Test side was in Zimbabwe, in September 2011.
Both sides have availability issues leading up to this match. The in-form Mohammad Hafeez had strained a hamstring in the third ODI and, though the injury is not serious, is a doubtful starter. Brendan Taylor’s participation would depend on when his child is born – his partner went into labour on Monday.
