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Historically, the odds are stacked heavily in favour of Pakistan, as their five-match cricket One-day International series against the touring Zimbabwe team begins with the first encounter, here at the National Stadium on Monday (tomorrow).

Since the two nations met on the cricket field for an ODI for the first time, during Pakistan’s triumphant World Cup campaign at Hobart in Australia on February 27, 1992, Pakistan have won as many as 31 of the total 35 matches played for a whopping success percentage of 92.64.

Zimbabwe have beaten Pakistan in a mere two of these 35 encounters. One match ended in a tie and another failed to produce a result.

Pakistan started with victory against Zimbabwe, by 53 runs, at Hobart. They attained six consecutive wins to begin with. Then an ODI was tied at Harare on February 22 on the 1995 tour.

On February 25, Pakistan defeated Zimababwe by four wickets, also in Harare. But the next day, Zimababwe won by 74 runs at the same venue to gain their first win over these particular opponents, in their ninth meeting in an ODI.

Pakistan proceeded to win all their next eight matches until Zimbabwe beat them by six wickets, in Sheikhupura on November 22, 1998. Of the last 17 ODIs between the two sides, Pakistan have won as many as 16, the progression only been punctuated by a no-result match at Bulawayo on March 4 in the year 2003.

Pakistan’s defeat of Zimbabwe at the 2007 World Cup competition, by 93 runs, at Kingston, Jamaica in the West Indies was the two outfits’ last meeting in an ODI.

This happened after Pakistan had lost to West Indies and minnows Ireland and were thrown out of the next stage of the World Cup.

Zimbabwe, having played no Test cricket for more than two years following an ICC suspension due to their poor performances, had done well to defeat the West Indies at Harare in November last year before losing the five-match rubber at 3-1. But in 2007, they won only two of their 15 ODIs, the other victory being over Bangladesh.

Pakistan’s ODI record in the year 2007 also doesn’t raise much confidence. Of their 23 such matches, they won only eight while losing 12.

One match ended as a no-result while two were abandoned without even getting underway. They lost six times out of 10 to South Africa, both at home and away.

In the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) One-day International ranking, Pakistan are down at number six with a points tally of 3,005 that gives them a rating of 107. They are placed just above England and West Indies.

Even Ireland, a non-Test-playing nation, have surpassed Zimbabwe to be at number 10. Zimbabwe, at the 11th spot, have a rating of just 20 which is better only than Kenya’s zero, who are placed at rock bottom.
Source:Cricket News

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