Pakistan and Zimbabwe start off the T20I series on Sunday 1st December. Pakistan enters this series with a complex narrative: after recently clinching a 2-1 ODI series victory, Pakistan comes into Bulawayo with newfound confidence tempered by the 0-3 T20I whitewash that they suffered against Australia.
Without some of their big stars on board, including skipper Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah, the side finds itself with a power vacuum in leadership, headed now by Salman Ali Agha.
Zimbabwe on the other hand comes fresh with their sub-regional qualifier from Kenya’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 performance and has maintained its bright talents Trevor Gwandu and Tinotenda Maposa who want to make it count.
Also read: PAK vs ZIM Match Preview- 1st T2OI, Pakistan tour of Zimbabwe 2024
PAK vs ZIM Team Analysis
Pakistan
Salman Ali Agha will lead the Pakistan team in the 1st PAK vs ZIM T2OI.
Zimbabwe
Sikandar Raza will lead the Zimbabwe team in the 1st PAK vs ZIM T2OI.
PAK vs ZIM Key Factors
Pitch Conditions
The PAK vs ZIM 1st T20I will be played at the Queen Sports Club in Bulawayo. The deck in Bulawayo Zimbabwe promises something for everyone.
Fast bowlers will have a good time in the early overs with the new ball offering swing and some seam movement.
But once it settles, the consistency in its pace and bounce make batting pretty straightforward by afternoon.
Spinners could get some turn in the middle overs, but that depends purely on the dryness of the surface. The older ball will leave the batters to cope with cutters and hard lengths from the pacers.
Form and Fitness
Tactical Acumen
Pakistan
Pakistan’s strength would be in their formidable pace arsenal, especially in the form of Haris Rauf and Mohammad Hasnain, who can try to expose Zimbabwe on its vulnerabilities with pace and bounce, especially in powerplay overs.
Pakistan’s batting unit, featuring Tayyab Tahir and Sahibzada Farhan, will look for aggressive starts to build a good foundation and relieve pressure on the middle order. In the middle overs, captain Agha Salman and spinner Sufyan Moqim will control the game with tight lines, forcing Zimbabwe into errors.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe would be depending very much on Sikandar Raza to stabilize their innings. His capacity to handle good bowling and to build a partnership will be crucial to the team’s success against the Pakistani bowlers.
Zimbabwean pacers, Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava will look to get some early breakthroughs during the powerplay to shake the Pakistani top order. Meanwhile, Ryan Burl’s role as a finisher will be crucial in death overs, where his power-hitting could set or chase a challenging target
PAK vs ZIM Match Prediction- 1st T20I, Pakistan tour of Zimbabwe 2024
PAK vs ZIM Score Prediction
| Team | 1st Innings | 2nd Innings |
| PAK | 170-190 | 150-160 |
| ZIM | 140-160 | 150-165 |
PAK vs ZIM Key Players
PAK: Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Hasnain, and Tayyab Tahir will be key players for Pakistan.
ZIM: Brian Bennett, Sikandar Raza, Wellington Masakadza, Dion Myers, Blessing Muzarabani, and Richard Ngarava will be key players for Zimbabwe.
Best Batsman Prediction
Who will score the most runs for PAK in the match: Salman Ali Agha or Sahibzada Farhan
Who will score the most runs for ZIM in the match: Sikandar Raza or Wellington Masakadza
Best Bowler Prediction
Who will pick the most wickets for PAK in the match: Haris Rauf or Mohammad Hasnain
Who will pick the most wickets for ZIM in the match: Blessing Muzarbani or Richard Ngarava
Conclusion – Who will win the match?
Pakistan is well set to overpower Zimbabwe in the 1st T20I on the back of a lethal pace attack of Pakistan. Visitors are led by Haris Rauf and Mohammad Hasnain.
With Tayyab Tahir and Sahibzada Farhan to start things with fire, Pakistan’s middle order and spinners can command full control over the game and thus are favorites to clinch a comprehensive win over Zimbabwe whose hope would solely rest with Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl.