ZIM vs PAK 2nd Test – Babar Azam announce Squad: The Pakistan cricket team has announced a 13-member squad led by Babar Azam for the final Test against Zimbabwe at Harare. The Men in Green will be aiming to extend their winning run in Test cricket in the second and final match of the series, which starts on Friday.
Babar Azam’s side crushed their hosts by an innings at the Harare Sports Club in the previous meeting, making it three victories on the spin in the format.
ZIM vs PAK 2nd Test: Pakistan squad vs Zimbabwe for 2nd Test
Babar Azam (c), Abid Ali, Imran Butt, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tabish Khan, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan and Haris Rauf
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) May 6, 2021
ZIM vs PAK 2nd Test – Babar Azam announce Squad: Another success at the same venue will see Pakistan achieve their best Test-win streak since managing five consecutive triumphs between December 2011 and February 2012. Zimbabwe, in contrast, have not prevailed on home soil since September 2013, recording two draws and eight defeats since that last success over Pakistan.
ZIM vs PAK 1st Test Recap: Zimbabwe’s problems in the opening Test stemmed from a lack of runs; bowled out for 176 first time around, they managed just 134 in the second innings.
No home player registered a half-century as Pakistan pace bowler Hasan Ali finished with nine wickets in the match to help his team charge over the line inside three days. Pakistan could even afford for skipper Babar to get a first-ball duck as they piled up 426 in their one and only innings, Fawad Alam leading the way with 140 as he showed Zimbabwe how to play on a sluggish pitch, batting for nearly five hours in total.
The all-rounder’s century was his third in five Tests, having made 102 against New Zealand last December and then 109 in the first Test with South Africa in Karachi in January. Prince Masvaure did not bat for Zimbabwe in their second innings due to a thumb injury that rules him out of contention. However, captain Sean Williams could be fit to return to action, while Craig Ervine and Wesley Madhevere may also be back to bolster the home team’s line-up.