Pakistan Set to Test Revived Zimbabwe

Bulawayo: 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 Thursday, will be followed by three ODI's and two Twenty-20s.

Zimbabwe was granted a return to Test cricket by the ICC last year after a gap of six years. They had been obliged to field a weak side following a strike of nearly all their professionals and two consequent Test defeats by an innings and more than 200 runs.

 
Withdrawal from Tests was inevitable and those years have been used to rebuild. With just what success is now under the microscope with three successive tours - by Bangladesh, followed by Pakistan and in October/November New Zealand.

These opponents are considered by the ICC to be ones a nascent Zimbabwe can best cope with.

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. Their last encounter was in 1992 when Pakistan won both Tests, by 119 runs and by 10 wickets.

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 Gull, 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.

Teams from

Zimbabwe BRM Taylor (capt & wk), RW Chakabva, CJ Chibhabha, CR Ervine, KM Jarvis, GA Lamb, H Masakadza, TMK Mawoyo, CB Mpofu, RW Price, V Sibanda, T Taibu (wk), P Utseya, BV Vitori, MN Waller 

Pakistan Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Adnan Akmal (wk), Aizaz Cheema, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Imran Farhat, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Rameez Raja, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Malik, Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Taufeeq Umar, Umar Akmal, Yasir Shah, Younis Khan 
 
Pitch and conditions
The conditions at the Queens Sports Club tend to aid batsmen, with spin coming into the game in a big way in the latter stages. The pitch has some grass, though not green enough to leave batsmen anxious. With the temperature touching 28 degrees, the strip is expected to dry out quickly and flatten into a batting beauty.

Stats and trivia

• Two of Zimbabwe's four Test wins against top-flight opposition came against Pakistan, including their first ever victory in the format, in Harare in 1995
• Misbah-ul-Haq is yet to lose a Test series as captain. His tenure includes drawn series against South Africa and West Indies, and victory against New Zealand - all in away tours
• With 5617 runs, Younis Khan is the fifth-highest run-getter in Pakistan's Test history, 151 behind Saleem Malik who is fourth

Match facts
September 1 - 5, 2011
Start time 10:00 (8:00 GMT, 13:00 PST)