Having secured a 2-0 success in the T20is against Zimbabwe in Lahore on Sunday, Pakistan will embark on a three match ODI series against the same opposition, starting on Tuesday.
There is little doubt that the circus surrounding the return of international cricket to Pakistan for the first time in six years, will continue during the ODIs, but it would be churlish to denigrate the hosts for allowing the cricket to become a mere sideshow to the celebrations surrounding the visit of the Zimbabwe side itself.
However, for the teams themselves, there is the desire to play and win, that accompanies any international series, and the Pakistan selectors have made a number of changes from the squad that made a disastrous ODI tour to Bangladesh recently, where they were beaten by their neighbours 0-3.
All-rounder Shoaib Malik and fast bowler Mohammad Sami, who were both selected for the T20Is, have both earned recalls to the ODI squad. Malik hasn’t played an ODI since 2013, when he represented his country at the Champions Trophy in England.
For Aami’s last ODI appearance it is necessary to go back even further, to 2012, when he played against Sri Lanka. There is also a recall for opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad, who had been omitted from the trip to Bangladesh.
Malik could only muster a total of 14 runs in the T20Is, but was more impressive with the ball, where he took 2-35 in seven overs over the course of the two games, while Sami who even at the age of 34 is probably the fastest bowler in Pakistan domestic cricket, took four wickets, including 3-36 in the first fixture.
Imad Wasim, who made his international bow in Sunday’s two-wicket victory, will hope to make his ODI debut during the series, having been named in the 16-man squad.
However, the offspinner Saeed Ajmal, who has been such an important member of the team in recent years is dropped after a difficult series in Bangladesh, as he struggles with his remodelled action after he was banned last year for an illegal bowling action.