CAN THE MASTERS OF COLLAPSE HIT BACK?

Brandon Moyo

Zimpapers Sports Hub

FOLLOWING their sensational collapse against Pakistan in the second T20I on Tuesday, Zimbabwe will be hoping to save face when the two sides clash in the series finale at Queens Sports Club this afternoon.

Pakistan already enjoys an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

However, the Chevrons have their sights set on ending the tour on a high note after two disappointing games.

Speaking after the game on Tuesday, captain Sikandar Raza said:

“The first thing I’ll be saying is that I have to take the ownership and responsibility to be in the middle for as many overs as I can.

“I’m going to have to find a method where I can be aggressive when needed and also grind through to allow us to form partnerships.

“I think if we can find one or two more partnerships in the next game, that would help. When it comes to the boys, those who enjoy a coffee, I’ll try and take them out for a coffee, sit them down, and speak to them.

“I’ll tell them they can always figure it out and if Tuesday’s defeat is still on their minds, we’ll try and get that out. Once that’s out of their heads, we’ll keep motivating them, reminding them that everybody backs them,” said Raza.

The 38-year-old all-rounder added that it is their duty to try the team’s fortunes around.

Raza said they need to redirect the criticism they’ve received to re-ignite their passion and energy so they can return to winning ways.

“I know there will be some backlash as I’ve heard from fans and rightly so but the beauty of professional sport is that we’ve been chosen for this, so we should be mentally strong enough to take that criticism.

“Channel the passion, energy and negativity in the right direction and feel that passion within ourselves to say ‘you know what, our fans, our country deserve better, and we’re going to turn this ship around.’

Pakistan’s mystery spinner Sufiyan Muqeem finished with figures of 5/3.

The 57 runs was Zimbabwe’s lowest score in T20I history and the second-lowest by a Full Member nation in T20Is, second only to the West Indies’ 45 runs.