Short back, and sides in for tri-series final

Australia have recalled opener D'Arcy Short for their T20 tri-series final against the world's top-ranked T20 team, Pakistan.

Captain Aaron Finch won the toss and elected to bat first on a sunny Sunday morning in Harare for the deciding match of the week-long tournament which has also featured hosts Zimbabwe. 

Nic Maddinson, who managed scores of 5 and 2 in his first two international limited-overs games in nearly five years on this tour, has been dropped.

On Friday, Short made way for debutant allrounder Jack Wildermuth for Australia's final group-stage match against Zimbabwe following a pained knock of 28 off 34 balls against Pakistan.

But the left-hander had played a pivotal role a match earlier against the home side with a 42-ball 46, ensuring captain Aaron Finch received the lion's share of the strike in their 223-run first-wicket stand, the biggest partnership in T20 International history.

Short is expected to again partner Finch at the top of Australia's order, with wicketkeeper Alex Carey (who performed the role against Zimbabwe on Friday) to drop back down the order.

Pakistan have made two changes to their XI for the final, handing a debut to 22-year-old opener Sahibzada Farhan at the expense of Haris Sohail, while Hasan Ali has come back into the side of Usman Khan.

Australia missed an opportunity to usurp Pakistan atop the T20 rankings after their 45-run loss to Sarfraz Ahmed's side on Thursday, but have had three resounding victories from four matches and can rise above India into second on the rankings with victory in Harare's decider.

With scores of 61, 47 and 73 in this tri-series, opener Fakhar Zaman looms as Pakistan's key man for the final.

"I think Fakhar Zaman has been outstanding and a real thorn in our side. He's also been consistent in this format for a long time," Finch said ahead of the Sunday's final.

"In T20 cricket a lot of the time it's the openers that set the tone, Fakhar is in good form."

Finch too found some terrific touch in the African nation, taking his international T20 run tally past 400 with his mammoth 172 against Zimbabwe, before coming back to earth with scores of 3 and 16 in Australia's last two games.

 "I feel like I'm playing very well at the moment, I'm not too bothered by a couple of low scores to be honest," he said.

"T20 cricket tends to be a little high risk at the start of the innings, as long as I'm moving well and hitting the ball in the middle of the bat, I'm pretty confident.

"Hopefully I can get a few (runs) in the final."

Qantas Tour of Zimbabwe

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth

Pakistan squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Haris Sohail, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Usman Khan Shinwari, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sahibzada Farhan.

Zimbabwe squad: Hamilton Masakadza (c), Cephas Zhuwao, Chamu Chibhabha, Brian Chari, Tarisai Musakanda, Malcolm Waller, PJ Moor, Tendai Chisoro, Kyle Jarvis, Brandon Mavuta, Blessing Muzarabani, Chris Mpofu, Ryan Burl, Solomon Mire, Wellington Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura, Ryan Murray

July 1: Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 74 runs

July 2: Australia beat Pakistan by 9 wickets

July 3: Australia beat Zimbabwe by 100 runs

July 4: Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 7 wickets

July 5: Pakistan beat Australia by 45 runs

July 6: Australia beat Zimbabwe by 5 wickets

July 8: Final