Complacency a challenge as Pakistan target series sweep

LAHORE: Pakistan look to sweep the ODI series when they face Zimbabwe in the third and final match in Lahore on Sunday (today).
With the series already sealed in favour of Pakistan, the match is a dead rubber. It is, however, a dead rubber Pakistan cannot afford to lose.
Pakistan need to sweep the series to keep their 2017 Champions Trophy qualification chances alive. A 2-1 scoreline will only widen the gap between Pakistan — currently ranked No 9 in the ICC rankings — and the teams above them.
The last time Pakistan swept a bilateral series with three or more games was against Bangladesh in December 2011. They won 3-0.
Zimbabwe are yet to win a game on this tour. They have already been deprived of their in-form captain Elton Chigumbura, who was handed a two-match ban for a slow over-rate in the first ODI. Zimbabwe’s batsmen have done well to dent Pakistan at various stages in the series but their bowling and fielding have let the home side get away with wins.
Sikandar Raza, the Pakistan-born Zimbabwe batsman, scored his second one-day century batting for the first time at No 5 in ODIs.
“It’s a very special hundred and it couldn’t have come at a sweeter time only because, like I said, that I was questioning a lot of things in my head and I wanted to prove, not to anyone but to myself, that a lot of people have put their faith (in me) and I deserve that,” he said.
Zimbabwe will look to rally themselves around Raza and Chamu Chibhabha’s form as they look for a win.
Meanwhile, fast bowler Mohammad Sami — who has been one of the most expensive bowlers in the series — has had consistent backing on his return but has failed to capitalise with performances. Sami’s returns in the final ODI could also decide the duration of his comeback stint with the team.
Fewer runs were scored in the second ODI, compared to the first, but the pitch remains a paradise for batsmen.