HARARE: Australia, Pakistan and Zimbabwe meet in a T20 tri-series startingin Harare on Sunday with the world number one ranking on the line in thesport’s shortest format.
Pakistan travel to Zimbabwe as the world’s top-rated team but if theAustralians are able to put their torrid tour of England behind them theycould claim that status for themselves.
Australia are in dire need of a confidence booster after enduring a 6-0drubbing across limited overs formats on their tour of England, and aheadof their arrival in Zimbabwe coach Justin Langer insisted “there’s light atthe end of the tunnel.”
Australia slipped down to third in the ICC’s T20 rankings after theirdefeat to England but could come out of the Zimbabwe tri-series with thetop ranking if they are able to reverse their losing streak.
The challenge is a stiff one, however, as Australia are currently missingsix key limited-overs players, with Steve Smith and David Warner currentlyserving bans while Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and MitchMarsh, all recovering from injuries.
They will be up against a Pakistan side brimming with confidence afterhaving lost only one of their eight T20 internationals this year.
Looking to extend their success, Pakistan named a full-strength squad fortheir trip to Zimbabwe.
They decided not to rest fast bowler Mohammad Amir for this tour, while thecontributions of 19-year-old leg-spinner Shadab Khan will also be crucialin conditions expected to favour spin.
The experienced Mohammad Hafeez will likely return to their top order afterhis bowling action was cleared as legal last month.
“Hafeez warranted a place after clearing his action,” said Pakistanselector Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Uncapped opener Sahibzada Farhan was also included “after showing good formin domestic matches,” said Inzamam. Pakistan will also bank on theexperience of captain Sarfraz Ahmed, who has toured Zimbabwe twice before.
Hosts Zimbabwe have had their own side shorn of valuable experience due toa pay dispute between Zimbabwe Cricket and several senior players.
There will be a new look to their team when they take on Pakistan inSunday’s opener, with young batsman Tarisai Musakanda tipped to be named asnew captain.
The Zimbabweans will also be distracted by the potential outcomes of theongoing ICC conference, where their cricket board’s massive debts are beingdiscussed.
The signs are that this could be a difficult first outing for new coachLalchand Rajput.
“To be very honest, I just look at the players who are available and thebest 15 or 17 which we have picked,” he said.
“So my job is to get the 17 who are available and prepare them for thetri-series. I am not interested in who is available or not available. Myjob is for the people who are available and I want to prepare them well forthe tri-series.”
The three teams will play each other twice, with a rest day on Saturdaybefore the top two sides meet in next Sunday’s final. – APP/AFP