Pakistan, Zimbabwe set for first T20 today
The first T20 between Pakistan and Zimbabwe will be played at Gaddafi Stadium today.
LAHORE (Dunya News/Agencies) – Pakistan will take on Zimbabwe in the in the first of two Twenty20 matches in Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium today (Friday). The match will start at 7:00pm PST.
The fixture is Pakistan s first on home soil since 2009, when militants launched a gun attack on Sri Lanka s team bus in Lahore, killing eight police and civilians and leaving seven players wounded.
Thousands of police and paramilitaries have been deployed and helicopters will be buzzing over Lahore s Gaddafi Stadium, which has been turned into a fortress for Friday s Twenty20 game against lowly Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura said that our aim is to play good cricket and the unusual security arrangements will not affect our game.
"Yes, it s obviously something new for us," said Chigumbura. "But we know why it is like this and players are not worried because Pakistan have done this for us, to be secure and safe.
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi hoped the first ball on Friday will refocus attention on cricket as he attempts to lift his team after a poor World Cup and series in Bangladesh.
"These (security) arrangements are necessary," said Afridi. "I am sure with the first ball on Friday all attention will be on cricket and fans will enjoy the game without any bother and I hope they come in big number."
Despite the tight security and the late confirmation of the series, following a massacre in an attack on a bus in Karachi, organisers say the 27,000-capacity venue is a sell-out for Friday s game.
Teams (from):
Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Sarfaraz Ahmed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Mukhtar Ahmed, Noman Anwar, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan, Anwar Ali, Hammad Azam, Immad Wasim, Bilawal Bhatti, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami.
Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Sikandar Raza, Chamu Chibhabha, Charles Coventry, Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Roy Kaia, Hamilton Masakadza, Christopher Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa, Richmond Mutumbami, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusi Sibanda, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Sean Williams.
Umpires: Ahsan Raza (PAK) and Shozab Raza (PAK).
Tv umpire: Ahmed Shahab (PAK).
Match referee: Azhar Khan (PAK).
