Pakistan vs. Zimbabwe, 2nd ODI: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

Pakistan are 1-0 up in their three-match series against Zimbabwe and have the chance to take an unassailable lead on Friday.

Date: Friday, May 29, 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: It's going to be yet another scorcher in Lahore, with temperatures reaching up to 43 degrees during the day, according to AccuWeather.com.

Overview

Much of this series between Pakistan and Zimbabwe has revolved around the fact that international cricket has returned to the country for the first time in six years. Cricket has almost been a second thought, but now that Pakistan have a chance to exert their dominance on Zimbabwe, that might change.

In both the T20 series and in the first ODI, Zimbabwe have been innocuous. One of their biggest failings remain that their batting is far stronger than their bowling. Just how poor their bowling is was underscored in Tuesday’s match when the visitors conceded 375 runs, while taking just three wickets. And it could have been much worse.

Despite the massive total, Pakistan were hardly overly aggressive in their approach. There might be some more urgency in the second ODI, though, as a win would mean that they cannot lose the series. The venue will remain the same, and if the previous results are anything to go by, there will be plenty on offer for the batsmen.

Zimbabwe have also been dealt a blow with captain Elton Chigumbura suspended for the next two matches due to a slow over rate, according to the ICC. The skipper scored a ton in the previous ODI, and his experience and influence in the middle order will certainly be missed. His replacement will have to be decided tomorrow and could offer the opportunity for some experimentation in the middle order.

This is an important series for both teams. For Pakistan, it’s a chance to bring some joy to their fans, who have been deprived for so long. For Zimbabwe, it’s a chance to prove that they are not nearly as poor as their recently concluded World Cup campaign suggests.

Key Players

Pakistan

Haris Sohail's 89 off 66 wasn't the top score of Pakistan's innings in the first ODI, but he showed some promise to be a good lower-order blitz player.

Zimbabwe

Hamilton Masakadza was one of just two Zimbabwe players who managed a half-century. With Chigumbura out for the next match, Zimbabwe will look to him to help bring calm to the middle order.

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