Zimbabwe wins toss, elects to bat in first of two Twenty20s against Pakistan
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP)_ Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura won the toss and elected to bat against Pakistan in the first Twenty20 on Friday.
The match marks the return of major international cricket in Pakistan, six years since a deadly attack by gunmen on the Sri Lanka team convoy, also in Lahore.
Fast bowler Mohammad Sami was recalled by Pakistan three years after his last T20 against Sri Lanka. Allrounder Shoaib Malik also made a comeback after last appearing in the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh.
Zimbabwe included Charles Coventry after four years out, while Christopher Mpofu, Brian Vitori, Richmond Mutumbami, Vusi Sibanda and Graeme Cremer also return after being left out of the Cricket World Cup.
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Lineups:
Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Sikandar Raza, Charles Coventry, Graeme Cremer, Hamilton Masakadza, Christopher Mpofu, Richmond Mutumbami, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusi Sibanda, Brian Vitori, Sean Williams.
Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Mukhtar Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Anwar Ali, Bilawal Bhatti, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami.
