The Pakistan Shaheens cricket team is set to depart from Zimbabwe today after featuring in a series of two four-day matches and six 50-over matches from 3 to 27 May 2023. The tour took place in three cities of Zimbabwe, namely Kwekwe, Mutare, and Harare, with the four-dayers hosted in Kwekwe and Mutare, and the 50-over matches played at the Harare Sports Club.
In the first four-day match held at the Kwekwe Sports Club, the Shaheens showcased their dominance by defeating Zimbabwe A convincingly by eight wickets. The standout performances of the match included centuries by Omair Bin Yousuf and Mohammad Huraira, as well as an impressive 11-wicket haul by left-arm spinner Mehran Mumtaz.
Moving on to the second four-day match at the Mutare Sports Club, the Shaheens continued their winning streak with a commanding innings and 41-run victory over the hosts. Wicketkeeper-batsman Haseebullah played a crucial role, scoring his second first-class century, while Mohammad Ali contributed with seven wickets to seal the team’s triumph.
After the conclusion of the two four-dayers, the 24-year-old Omair emerged as the leading run-scorer, accumulating 348 runs from three innings, including a magnificent unbeaten score of 250 in the first four-day match. Huraira, with 242 runs from two innings at an average of 121, secured the second spot on the batting charts.
In the bowling department, the 20-year-old Mehran shone brightly, claiming 15 wickets from two matches, which included two five-wicket hauls. Right-arm fast bowler Mohammad Ali complemented him with 11 wickets from two matches, securing the second position on the bowling list.
The Shaheens then took on Zimbabwe Select in a series of six one-day matches. The Zimbabwe Select side comprised first-choice players from the national team, utilizing the limited-overs series as preparation for the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers 2023, scheduled to be held in Zimbabwe.
Although Zimbabwe Select emerged victorious in the tightly contested one-day series with a 4-2 scoreline, several Shaheens players displayed notable performances. Omair, who topped the run-scoring charts in the four-dayers, secured the second position in the one-day series with 275 runs from four matches, including a magnificent maiden List A century of 153 runs.
Another promising young batsman, 21-year-old Mubasir Khan, showcased his talent by amassing 238 runs from five outings, highlighted by a valiant 115 in the sixth one-day match, despite the team falling short in a challenging 386-run chase.
In the bowling department, right-arm pacers Aamir Jamal and Shahnawaz Dahani led the wickets tally for the Shaheens. Aamir claimed the top spot with 16 wickets from six matches, including one five-wicket haul, while Dahani bagged 13 wickets from six outings, with his best figures of four for 43 in a match.
Head Coach Aizaz Cheema expressed mixed sentiments when reviewing the team’s performance. He commended the young players for their exceptional performances in the four-day matches, emphasizing the outstanding contributions made by Mehran Mumtaz, Omair Bin Yousuf, Mohammad Huraira, and Haseebullah, which played a crucial role in the team’s victories.
However, Coach Cheema expressed disappointment with the team’s performance in the one-day series, where they failed to capitalize on the opportunities presented to them, resulting
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