The year 2020 was a nightmare for the world due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. With all the mayhem and chaos the year entailed, cricket took a backseat as countries scrambled to defend themselves against the spread of the deadly virus.The bio-secure bubble, first implemented by England for their series against West Indies, finally opened the doors for cricket’s triumphant return as the fans braced themselves for the sport they love.For the fans of One-Day Internationals and the Men in Green, however, the pickings remained slim. A solitary three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe was the only offering available throughout the year that was played in an empty Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in its entirety.It must be noted that three ODIs against Netherlands, away, and a solitary ODI against Bangladesh, on home soil, were postponed due to Covid-19.A battle between the sixth-placed Pakistan and the 14th ranked Zimbabwe might not have been a pleasing prospect for many in the years before, but under the circumstances it was a much-needed break from the havoc engulfing the world.At first glance, this year should have been a breeze for the Men in Green. A lowly ranked Zimbabwe side would face a Pakistan side fresh off a rebranded and highly successful National T20 Cup, which brought fresh faces to the forefront, on their home ground. However, Pakistan ended the year with a final tally of two wins and one loss from three ODI matches played in 2020.Prolific batsman Babar Azam was made the skipper of the Pakistan side in ODIs and this was his first assignment. All eyes were on him to deliver and the batsman appeared unfazed by the challenge of leading the most volatile national team in the history of cricket.
