Zimbabwe to play three Tests at home after five years
By ANIThursday, February 24, 2011
SYDNEY - Zimbabwe will play their first Test matches in more than five years in one-off home games against Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand this year.
Australia and South Africa have also agreed to send strong A teams for a tri-series in July to help Zimbabwe prepare for their Test return.
Zimbabwe withdrew from Tests in January 2006 after senior players boycotted the side in a dispute with the Zimbabwe Cricket board, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
An International Cricket Council task force set goals for Zimbabwe in 2008 which were eventually met by the middle of last year, when ICC president David Morgan and chief executive Haroon Lorgat agreed Zimbabwe could start preparing for a return to Test status this year.
In a schedule released by Zimbabwe Cricket on Wednesday, they will play Bangladesh in Harare in August, Pakistan in Bulawayo in September and New Zealand in October or November.
All incoming teams will also play limited-overs matches.
“We are not going to rush it. We are going to start with fewer games and increase as we move along. I think we have a reasonable chance in those matches against those three teams,” said ZC chairman Peter Chingoka.
Zimbabwe will field their full team against the A sides of Australia and South Africa in a one-day tri-series from July 1-10. (ANI)
