FAISALABAD, Jan 29 The touring Zimabwbe cricket team, still smarting from their defeat in the five-match one-day series against hosts Pakistan, received another setback on Tuesday when it was learnt that key medium-fast bowler Tawanda Mupariwa was struggling with fitness problems ahead of Wednesday's fourth ODI in Faisalabad.
Zimbabwe, whose captain Prosper Utseya is already injured, will surely be weakened by the absence of Mupariwa who is a doubtful starter for the match.
“Mupariwa has some injury problems and we will assess his match-fitness before the start of the match,” said Zimbabwe coach Robin Brown at a press conference on Tuesday.
Mupairwa, with his career best return of 4-46 at Multan, had put Pakistan's star-studded batting lineup in big trouble by reducing it to 78-5 at one stage before Shahid Afridi and vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq retrieved the situation with a fine partnership of 116 in the sixth-wicket stand.
Setting a new target for the current series, coach Brown said his team was now aiming to win the remaining two games to end the series on a positive note.
The Zimbabweans, despite losing the series, have managed to score over 200 runs in each of the three games while their bowlers have given some anxious moments to the Pakistani batsmen.
Pakistan are likely to field a number of promising players in Wednesday's match which is expected to be a sell-out affair.
Captain Shoaib Malik hinted during the press conference on Tuesday that two more youngsters could make their debut in the fourth ODI at Faisalabad. Opener Khalid Lateef could make his debut by replacing an out-of-sorts Salman Butt while medium-pacer Sohail Khan will come in place of all-rounder Yasir Arafat.
Also, young all-rounder Fawad Alam is in line to take the place of seasoned middle-order batsman Younis Khan while wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal will make way for young Sarfraz Ahmed behind the stumps.
Malik, elaborating on Pakistan's plans for Wednesday, said the practice of introducing newcomers in the international games will go a long way in boosting the game.
He emphasised the need to groom back-up players and added that young opener Nasir Jamshed's level of confidence had gone up considerably with the recent matches.
Meanwhile, the arrangements to stage the fourth One-day International at the Iqbal Stadium have been completed. Strict security arrangements are being made for match and the local administration has decided to deploy around 2,000 policemen in addition to the 1,500 police constabulary in and around the team hotel and the stadium.
The match begins at 11.00am PST.
Teams (from)
PAKISTAN Shoaib Malik (captain), Nasir Jamshed , Khurram Manzoor, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmed, Sohail Tanvir, Kamran Hussain, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Fawad Alam and Khalid Lateef.
ZIMBABWE Hamilton Masakadza (captain), Vusi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu (wicketkeeper), Brendan Taylor,Tawanda Mupariwa, Chanu Chibhabha, Elton Chigburmbura, Sean Williams, Keith Dabengwa,Ray Price, Gary Brent, Christopher Mpofu, Timyoan Maruma.
