Where: Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur
When: Mon Feb 28, 09.30 local, 04.00 GMT, 15.00 AEST, 17.00 NZDT
ODI Head to Head: Played: 1, Wins: Zimbabwe 1, Canada 0.
Last meeting: May 16, 2006 - Zimbabwe 8-218 (max. 50 over) def. Canada 75 all out (28.5 ov) by 143 runs.
World Cup Head to Head: Played: 0.
SELECTION TABLE:
Likely Zimbabwe team: Brendan Taylor, Charles Coventry, Tatenda Taibu (wkt), Craig Ervine, Elton Chigumbura (capt), Sean Williams, Regis Chakabva/Shingirai Masakadza, Prosper Utseya, Graeme Cremer, Ray Price, Chris Mpofu.
Zimbabwe fielded an extra batsman against Australia in the form of Regis Chakabva, but he may make way for an additional bowler, with Shingirai Masakadza the most likely to come in.
Likely Canada team: Ruvindu Gunasekera, John Davison, Zubin Surkari, Jimmy Hansra, Ashish Bagai (capt & wk), Rizwan Cheema (vice-capt), Tyson Gordon, Khurram Chohan, Harvir Baidwan, Balaji Rao, Henry Osinde.
No changes are expected from the opening defeat to Sri Lanka.
X-FACTOR:
Zimbabwe: Veteran spinner Ray Price could only manage to collect one wicket at the cost of 43 runs in Zimbabwe's 91-run defeat in their opening match again Australia.
But the left-arm orthodox spinner, who has 84 one-day international appearances and 81 wickets to his name, is likely to pose a far greater threat to the Canadian minnows.
Canada:
Vice-captain Rizwan Cheema top scored with 37 in the 201-run defeat to Sri Lanka and, alongside John Davidson and Ashish Bagai, could make the difference against Zimbabwe.
Cheema was short-listed for the Indian Premier League player auction.
SUMMARY:
Canada are likely to run Kenya close for the Group A wooden spoon, unless they can spring a surprise against Zimbabwe.
A heavy defeat in their first outing against Sri Lanka was to be expected, but they have a chance to run Zimbabwe close or even stage an upset in their second match.
Canada coach Pubudu Dassanayake has been a vocal critic of the ICC's decision to exclude the Associate nations from the next World Cup, but his side did little to further their cause against Sri Lanka.
He will be hoping for a significant improvement from opening duo Davidson and Ruvindu Gunasekera, who were out for a duck and just one respectively.
Medium-fast bowler Khurram Chohan will also be eager to put a forgettable performance against Sri Lanka behind him.
Pakistan-born Chohan went for 62 runs from his eight overs at 7.75 without picking up a wicket.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, are in an unenviable position in their match against Canada.
Few expect them to get past the likes of Sri Lanka, Australia or Pakistan and into the latter stages of the tournament.
But a loss to Canada would represent a major setback on the road to redemption after being cast out of Test cricket.
Graeme Creamer top scored with 37 batting at No.9 in the opening loss to Australia.
Zimbabwe cannot expect to threaten anyone if they are forced to rely on their biggest contribution coming from the tail.
Much more will be expected from a top order including Elton Chigumbura and Brendan Taylor in the Canada match.
When: Mon Feb 28, 09.30 local, 04.00 GMT, 15.00 AEST, 17.00 NZDT
ODI Head to Head: Played: 1, Wins: Zimbabwe 1, Canada 0.
Last meeting: May 16, 2006 - Zimbabwe 8-218 (max. 50 over) def. Canada 75 all out (28.5 ov) by 143 runs.
World Cup Head to Head: Played: 0.
SELECTION TABLE:
Likely Zimbabwe team: Brendan Taylor, Charles Coventry, Tatenda Taibu (wkt), Craig Ervine, Elton Chigumbura (capt), Sean Williams, Regis Chakabva/Shingirai Masakadza, Prosper Utseya, Graeme Cremer, Ray Price, Chris Mpofu.
Zimbabwe fielded an extra batsman against Australia in the form of Regis Chakabva, but he may make way for an additional bowler, with Shingirai Masakadza the most likely to come in.
Likely Canada team: Ruvindu Gunasekera, John Davison, Zubin Surkari, Jimmy Hansra, Ashish Bagai (capt & wk), Rizwan Cheema (vice-capt), Tyson Gordon, Khurram Chohan, Harvir Baidwan, Balaji Rao, Henry Osinde.
No changes are expected from the opening defeat to Sri Lanka.
X-FACTOR:
Zimbabwe: Veteran spinner Ray Price could only manage to collect one wicket at the cost of 43 runs in Zimbabwe's 91-run defeat in their opening match again Australia.
But the left-arm orthodox spinner, who has 84 one-day international appearances and 81 wickets to his name, is likely to pose a far greater threat to the Canadian minnows.
Canada:
Vice-captain Rizwan Cheema top scored with 37 in the 201-run defeat to Sri Lanka and, alongside John Davidson and Ashish Bagai, could make the difference against Zimbabwe.
Cheema was short-listed for the Indian Premier League player auction.
SUMMARY:
Canada are likely to run Kenya close for the Group A wooden spoon, unless they can spring a surprise against Zimbabwe.
A heavy defeat in their first outing against Sri Lanka was to be expected, but they have a chance to run Zimbabwe close or even stage an upset in their second match.
Canada coach Pubudu Dassanayake has been a vocal critic of the ICC's decision to exclude the Associate nations from the next World Cup, but his side did little to further their cause against Sri Lanka.
He will be hoping for a significant improvement from opening duo Davidson and Ruvindu Gunasekera, who were out for a duck and just one respectively.
Medium-fast bowler Khurram Chohan will also be eager to put a forgettable performance against Sri Lanka behind him.
Pakistan-born Chohan went for 62 runs from his eight overs at 7.75 without picking up a wicket.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, are in an unenviable position in their match against Canada.
Few expect them to get past the likes of Sri Lanka, Australia or Pakistan and into the latter stages of the tournament.
But a loss to Canada would represent a major setback on the road to redemption after being cast out of Test cricket.
Graeme Creamer top scored with 37 batting at No.9 in the opening loss to Australia.
Zimbabwe cannot expect to threaten anyone if they are forced to rely on their biggest contribution coming from the tail.
Much more will be expected from a top order including Elton Chigumbura and Brendan Taylor in the Canada match.
