Pakistan vs. Zimbabwe, 1st ODI: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

Pakistan and Zimbabwe will play three one-day internationals in quick succession in Lahore following two T20s at the same venue. 

Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Time:  4 p.m. local (11 a.m. GMT and Noon BST)

Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Live stream and TV info: PTV Sports (Pakistan and UAE), Star Sports (India), SuperSport (Zimbabwe)

Weather:  According to AccuWeather.com, it's going to be a scorcher with temperatures reaching mid-40-degrees Celsius. No chance of rain cooling things down either, so expect plenty of water breaks.

Overview:

Cricket has come home to Pakistan and, if the curtain-raising T20 is anything to go by, it’s like it never left. The hosts chased down 173 in the one off T20 on Friday with Mukhtar Ahmed and Ahmed Shehzad doing the business with the bat. But one-day internationals are a different kettle of fish, and Pakistan will have to keep their cool in the first ODI against Zimbabwe. 

Zimbabwe are still reeling from their woeful World Cup campaign where they managed just one victory and will need to find something to lift them after yet another defeat in the first T20. The squad will remain the same for the entire whistle-stop tour so adjusting personnel shouldn’t be too much of a worry. Now that the visitors have had a firsthand look at conditions they know what to expect.

Pakistan do, however, hold one massive advantage: the high of playing in front of their home crowd for the first time in six years. The home supporters turned out in their numbers for the T20 and it’s expected to be the same for the one-day matches.

Pakistan have also played international cricket recently, while Zimbabwe have not played a match since the World Cup ended. On paper, the hosts are very much the favourites, but don’t underestimate Zimbabwe who will have a point to prove.

Key players

Pakistan

Ahmed Shehzad has found some form recently and put in a good effort in the first T20. If he can keep calm and build a platform at the top of the order, Pakistan will be in a good position to either set or chase a big total.

Zimbabwe 

Brian Vitori was Zimbabwe's best bowler in the first T20, and while he does not have much experience, he has showed plenty of promise. If the batsmen fail, like they so often do, it will be up to the bowlers to try and make something of the contest.

Squads 

Pakistan: Ahmed Shehzad, Bilawal Bhatti, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Rizwan, Mukhtar Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz, Sarfraz Ahmed, Anwar Ali, Hammad Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Sami, Nauman Anwar, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi

Zimbabwe: Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Chamu Chibhabha,  Charles Coventry, Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Roy Kaia, Hamilton Masakadza, Chris Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa, Richmond Mutumbami, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusi Sibanda, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Elton Chigumbura