Pakistan set to test revived Zimbabwe

Having negotiated the first hurdle in their campaign to justify Test nation status by beating Bangladesh in a one-off Test two weeks ago.

Having negotiated the first hurdle in their campaign to justify Test nation status by beating Bangladesh in a one-off Test two weeks ago,Zimbabwe now face a much higher fence on Thursday Pakistan. The single Test match,which starts tomorrow,will be followed by three ODIs and two Twenty20s.

Zimbabwe was granted a return to Test cricket by the ICC last year after a gap of six years.

The new Zimbabweans got off to a good start two weeks ago in beating Bangladesh by 130 runs and then by 3-2 in an ODI series.

Now they are called upon to move up a big step. Pakistan will inevitably start favourites,even though there appears to be continuing discord in their camp. Coach Waqar Younis suddenly declared his resignation last year with the Zimbabwe tour his intended last. And Pakistan will also not have Shahid Afridi on the tour as he has said he will not work with Younis,nor with the present executive.

They were also in dressing room disorder here in 1995 when they lost to Zimbabwe by an innings,with Grant Flower,the present batting coach,scoring an undefeated 201. However,their overall record is perhaps the one to be taken most account of. Pakistan have won eight of the 14 played,with two defeats.

Earlier this year they broke even 1-1 in a West Indies series,also winning one and drawing one against New Zealand. Pakistan have rested Umar Gul,Wahib Riaz and Abdur Rehman on this tour,bringing back Imran Farhat,Adnan Akmal and Sohail Tanveer. They introduce Ramiz Raja,Yasir Shah and Aizaz Cheema.

Zimbabwe are expecting seamer Brian Vitori back after a leg muscle strain. But he still needs to prove fitness. He had two five wicket hauls against Bangladesh and is their key strike bowler.