PRE MATCH ANALYSIS
Follow UsThe Indian Premier League 2021 was suspended indefinitely after multiple COVID-19 cases were reported in its bio-bubble, and with not much competitive cricket happening around the world, there will be a lot of focus on the second and final Test between Zimbabwe and Pakistan. Babar Azam and Co. outclassed Zimbabwe in all three facets of the game in the opening Test and won that encounter by an innings and 116 runs. They will now look to come up with something similar in the second Test, starting Friday (May 7) in Harare.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe will try to draw some inspiration from their stunning and historic comeback against the same opponent in 2013. After being dominated by Pakistan in the first Test, the hosts pulled off a famous 24-run victory in the second game to square the two-match series. Brendan Taylor, who captained Zimbabwe in the first Test in the absence of injured Sean Williams, was part of that victory and the 35-year-old will have to play a key role on and off the field if Zimbabwe want to make a similar comeback in the final Test.
THE RESURGENCE OF HASAN ALI
"I always wanted to wear a Test cap and it is like a dream that comes true for me that I am representing Pakistan in this format and staying relevant with my performances. There was a phase when I lost nearly everything. It was a difficult journey. I was out of cricket for nearly two years, fighting with multiple injuries but came back after getting fitter. It was a frustrating time and I used to cry. I had one aim and that was to make a comeback so that the world will remember me."
The right-arm paceman has already gone through a lot in his five-year international career. He commenced his journey on a stunning note but everything went downhill after a couple of years due to multiple injuries and some lack of form. Hasan Ali didn't play much international cricket between 2019 and 2020 but is now back to his best. He took 43 wickets at an average of 20.06 in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and managed to find his way back in the Pakistan set-up. Since his return, Hasan Ali has been in astonishing form.
The 26-year-old took his maiden 10-wicket haul in the second Test against South Africa in Rawalpindi and propelled Pakistan to their first Test series win over Proteas since 2003. He then took 4/18 against Zimbabwe in the T20I series-decider and followed it up with match figures of 9/89 in the first Test last week. He took 5/36 in the second innings and forced Zimbabwe into submission with a fine display of reverse-swing.
The likes of Shaheen Afridi and Nauman Ali were also amongst wickets but Pakistan could include one of Tabish Khan or Haris Rauf in place of offspinner Sajid Khan who only bowled 15 overs in the first game. "We will try to win the second Test as well, but we'll try to finalise the final XI after inspecting the pitch. We have a big series coming up against West Indies, so it's important to give some game time to our regular Test players. We won the first Test convincingly in three days, so we are most likely to go ahead with the winning combination (for the second Test),'' said Azam.
FAWAD ALAM CONTINUES TO SHINE
The left-handed middle-order batsman had to wait for more than a decade to make his Test comeback and is now making the most of it. Fawad Alam has crafted three centuries in his last seven Tests, with the latest coming against Zimbabwe in the first Test. He scored 140 off 204 deliveries and helped Pakistan put up enough runs in their first innings to bowl Zimbabwe out twice. In the process, Alam became the first Asian and overall the sixth batsman in the world to convert his first four fifties into centuries.
Prior to this, Alam also scored centuries against South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka (168 in his first Test in 2009). He doesn't look like a million dollars while batting but is getting the job done in the middle-order. Meanwhile, Imran Butt, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali and Mohammad Rizwan too got some runs but skipper Azam was dismissed by Donald Tiripano for a golden duck. The stylish right-hander would be eager to stamp his authority in the second Test and leave Zimbabwe on a high note.
ZIMBABWE BATSMEN NEED TO STEP UP
The hosts surely missed the services of their injured captain Williams in the first Test and could only manage totals of 176 and 134 in their two innings. Zimbabwe were hoping that Williams (hand injury) would recover before the final Test but the all-rounder is still not match-ready. Williams crafted scores of 105 and 151* in two Tests against Afghanistan earlier this year and was the only Zimbabwean batsman who was amongst runs in this format. Wesley Madhevere has been called up, while Takudzwanashe Kaitano, who joined the squad as cover on the eve of the first Test, has been retained for the second game.
Sikandar Raza and Craig Ervine were in decent form as well but are not part of the squad because of respective injuries. The likes of Tarisai Musakanda, Kevin Kasuza and Taylor, Milton Shumba, Roy Kaia, and Regis Chakabva all got good starts in the first encounter but will have to get those big scores if Zimbabwe want to challenge Pakistan. In the bowling department, Blessing Muzarabani, Donald Tiripano and Richard Ngarava did a decent job but the home team could hand a debut to Luke Jongwe who impressed everyone in the T20 series by picking up nine wickets in three matches.
PROBABLE XIs
Zimbabwe - Kevin Kasuza, Tarisai Musakanda, Brendan Taylor (c), Wesley Madhevere/Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Milton Shumba, Roy Kaia, Regis Chakabva (wk), Donald Tiripano, Luke Jongwe, Tendai Chisoro, Blessing Muzarabani.
Pakistan - Imran Butt, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Nauman Ali, Hasan Ali, Sajid Khan, Shaheen Afridi.
