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SULTAN OF SWING . . . Pakistan cricket coach Waqar Younis addresses the media at Harare International Airport yesterday after his team flew into Zimbabwe

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
PAKISTAN cricket coach Waqar Younis yesterday said the changes he has made to his side for the Zimbabwe tour do not mean that he is under estimating the hosts.

The Asian side arrived in the capital yesterday evening for two Twenty20 matches and three One Day Internationals at Harare Sports Club starting on Sunday.

“Zimbabwe has always been a competitive side to play against, especially when they are at home,” said Younis.

“We saw that when they came to Pakistan a few months ago and though they did not win a game they were always very good.

“There is no one player I can single out as a threat to Pakistan because they are all good, they play as a unit.”

Pakistan arrived without ODI skipper Azhar Ali, vice-captain Sarfraz Ahmed and batsman Asad Shafiq who will join the squad at the conclusion of the T20 series as they are understood to be away on religious grounds.

Right — hand batsman Sohaib Maqsood has been recalled to the side, while the emerging all-rounders Aamer Yamin, Bilal Asif and Imran Khan Junior have also been included in the 15-man squad led by Twenty20 team skipper Shahid Afridi.

Senior player Sarfraz Ahmed was excused from the series due to his personal reasons while all-rounder Anwar Ali was dropped from the team after he sustained an injury during the national T20 tournament.

“These changes are good for us because they help us map the way forward and to build a team for the future we need the youngsters,” said Younis.

According to the Pakistani media, Afridi believes their T20 games against Zimbabwe will give them the form they need ahead of next year’s ICC World Twenty20 championship.

“Zimbabwe might not be ranked among the top teams in the world but they remain a good side in limited-overs matches,” said Afridi.

“The two matches we play against them will be an excellent opportunity for my players and team officials and we plan to use them as a launch pad for the T20 World Cup. We won’t take the matches lightly.

“I’m happy with the progress our team has been making in the lead up to the T20 World Cup.”

Squads

Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Luke Jongwe, Neville Madziva, Hamilton Masakadza, Christopher Mpofu, Richmond Mutumbami, Taurai Muzarabani, John Nyumbu, Tinashe Panyangara, Sikandar Raza, Prosper Utseya, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams.

Pakistan T20: Shahid Afridi (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Mukhtar Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Sohaib Maqsood, Shoaib Malik, Aamer Yamin, Mohammad Irfan, Bilal Asif, Wahab Riaz, Imad Wasim, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Rizwan, Imran Khan Jr.

Pakistan ODI: Azhar Ali (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Sohaib Maqsood, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Immad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Asad Shafiq.