FANTASY
Follow UsPakistan will look to seal the series when they take on Zimbabwe in the second and final Test at the Harare Sports Club, starting on Friday (May 7). They smashed the hosts by an innings and 116 runs in the first Test but wouldn't want to take the foot off the pedal because Zimbabwe have beaten them thrice in this format.
HEAD TO HEAD IN TESTS
Overall: Pakistan - 11 wins | Zimbabwe - 3 wins | Draw 4
Last five Tests: Pakistan - 4 wins | Zimbabwe - 1 win
SUGGESTED TEAMS
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your own team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. Based on algorithms, we have come up with one team.
GROUND DETAILS AND TEAM COMBINATION
The Harare Sports Club has hosted three Tests since 2019 and the batsmen here have scored runs at an average of 33.4, while a wicket has fallen every 71.9 deliveries. It would be ideal to have more Pakistan batsmen in your XI but you could also go for the likes of Sean Williams and Brendan Taylor who have been in pretty decent form.
There is not much difference if you compare fast bowlers with spinners at this venue. The seamers here have an average of 32.2 and a strike rate of 85.1 since 2019, while spinners have an average of 41.5 and have taken a wicket every 79.9 deliveries. Both teams have got some quality fast bowlers but it would be ideal to have at least one spinner in your XI.
CAPTAIN
Hasan Ali has been in the form of his life ever since making his comeback from an injury. The right-arm paceman 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. In his last three Tests, Hasan Ali has taken 21 wickets at an average of 15.5 and a strike rate of 25.4. He was also the Player of the Match in the first Test, finishing with the match figures of 9/89. If needed, he could also fetch you some points with his batting.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Hasan Ali could take 9-11 wickets in this encounter.
X-FACTORS
Fawad Alam had to wait for more than a decade to make his Test comeback and is now making the most of it. The left-handed middle-order batsman 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.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Fawad Alam could score 108-162 runs in this encounter.
Sean Williams didn't play the first Test because of a hand injury, but if he is fit and available, the 34-year-old should be a part of your XI. Williams slammed scores of 105 and 151* in two Tests against Afghanistan earlier this year and is the only Zimbabwean batsman who has been amongst runs in this format. The left-hander averages 96.2 in this format since 2019 and also has four wickets to his name in this period.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Sean Williams could score 129-194 runs and pick 1-3 wickets in this encounter.
Blessing Muzarabani is only 24 but the right-arm paceman is slowly starting to become the linchpin of the Zimbabwe bowling attack. Muzarabani made his Test debut against South Africa in 2017 but went wicketless. He wasn't part of Zimbabwe's next five Tests but has become a key member ever since making his Test comeback against Afghanistan earlier this year. He has picked up 12 wickets at 18.5 in the last three Tests and also did well against Pakistan in the first encounter, picking up 4/73 in 31 overs.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Blessing Muzarabani could take 3-5 wickets in this encounter.
