MULTAN, Jan 26 Zimbabwe will go in for the crucial third One-day International at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Sunday with hopes of upsetting hosts Pakistan despite the absence of their skipper Prosper Utseya who has aggravated an ankle injury.

The lowly-graded Zimbabwe, who braved the fluctuating security situation in the country to undertake this five-match series in Pakistan, face an uphill task today in Multan since the home side is pretty confident after leading the contest 2-0. The tourists lost the first two matches at Karachi and Hyderabad respectively.

Zimbabwe`s media manager Lovemore Banda announced at the start of the press conference that Hamilton Maskadza will lead the team. “Utseya is injured so he will not play in tomorrow`s game and we will also announce our side before the start of the match,” said Banda, flanked by Utseya and coach Robin Brown.

Shoaib Malik`s Pakistan, on the other hand, must be anxious to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead on Sunday. Though the impressive margins of Pakistan`s wins indicate their dominance, the fact remains that the home side has largely been unimpressive in their batting, bowling and fielding departments against a much weaker outfit.

The Zimbabweans have scored 243 and 238 respectively in the two games played so far, somewhat exposing the lack of depth in Pakistan`s bowling attack. And despite their meagre bowling resources, they managed to reduce the hosts to 5-178 at Hyderabad at one time. It was left to all-rounder Shahid Afridi to lift the team to victory with a blazing knock but the chinks in the armours of several top order batsmen were amply exposed.

“I will not under estimate the Zimbabweans as they have a good number of talented players and it is why we will play with maximum experienced players in Multan to take a decisive 3-0 lead,” Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said on Saturday.“We are preparing the pitches to get the home advantage and it is the right of the host country,” he said while replying to a query.

Malik also hinted at making one or two changes in the match but said the home side would like to stick to the experienced set of players to ensure a series win on Sunday.

“We can try out some more youngsters in the remaining two matches but only after taking an unbeatable lead. We will sit together with the selectors on Sunday to pick a final eleven, after having a final look on the strip,” said Malik.

Pakistan might be playing young pacer Sohail Khan on Sunday since he has impressed all and sundry with his pace and aggressive attitude besides being the top wicket-taker of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy this season. But if the team sources are to be believed, medium-pace all-rounder Kamran Hussain may edge out Sohail for the key clash.

Zimbabwe`s coach Brown said his team was aware of the importance of Sunday`s game. “We will want to win the toss and bat first and to set a target of 280 to 300 plus and then try and put pressure on Pakistan,” he said.

Asked if his team was concerned about the fielding lapses in the last two games, Brown said the boys were improving as tour progressed and hoping to make amends at Multan and the coming matches.

He added that the tourists were quite satisfied over the security arrangements in Pakistan. “The PCB and the government have provided the best security arrangements and it is all going smoothly,” he said.

He dispelled the impression that a change in captaincy would affect the strategy of his team. “The strategy is always made in consultation with all the officials and the captain, so I don`t feel it will have any bad affect on our game,” he said.

The day and night match starts at 11am.

Teams (from)

PAKISTAN Shoaib Malik (captain), Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Khalid Latif, Kamran Akmal, Fawad Alam, Kamran Hussain, Yasir Arafat, Rao Iftikhar, Sohail Tanvir, Sohail Khan.

ZIMBABWE Vusimusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza (captain), Justice Chibhabha, Tatenda Taibu, Brendan Taylor, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Keith Dabengwa, Elton Chigumbura, Gary Brent, Ray Price, Christopher Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa, Sean Williams, Timycen Maruma.