LAHORE (Pakistan): One-day cricket will return on Friday at the Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Stadium after 14 years when Pakistan and Zimbabwe play the first of the World Cup Super League fixture.
In the 13-team World Cup Super League, seven sides plus hosts India will qualify for the World Cup. All teams will play four home and four away series, with each match worth 10 points.
Pakistan’s three ODIs and three T20s against Zimbabwe will be played behind closed doors in Rawalpindi, and with both teams in a bio-secure “bubble”. All players have tested negative for the coronavirus.
Out of the 22 probables chosen for the series, a total of six players belong to Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the twin cities.
Newly appointed vice-captain Shadab Khan has played a lot of cricket at the Pindi Cricket Stadium and he is looking forward to representing his country in his hometown.
“Exciting times for me as I would be vice-captaining at my home ground where I have some great memories of the stadium especially since watching cricket here as a spectator. I have even come here as a spectator to support Mohammad Nawaz in a domestic game, as he is a good mate of mine. The Zimbabwe series should produce good cricket at this venue where we have seen some really exciting games in the past,” said Shadab.
The rehabilitation of Pakistan, largely shunned by foreign sides after a deadly attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in 2009, has accelerated in recent months, partly as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
After Pakistan toured England and agreed to visit South Africa — both hard-hit by Covid-19 — the two heavyweights were moved to show their gratitude by studying reciprocal trips. Neither has visited in more than a decade.
Zimbabwe, West Indies and Bangladesh have all toured Pakistan since the attack, and last year Sri Lanka ended their decade-long absence with a limited-overs tour.
