Zimbabwe to play three Tests at home after five years
February 24th, 2011 - 1:40 pm ICT by ANISydney, Feb 24 (ANI): 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)
- Zimbabwe return to Test cricket after six years - Aug 04, 2011
- India to play One-day tri-series in Zimbabwe - Apr 16, 2010
- Cricket Australia reinstate tri-series with India and Sri Lanka - Jun 14, 2011
- Kiwis' two Test tour to Bangladesh postponed till 2012 over oppressive conditions - Mar 24, 2011
- Gillespie to be Australia A assistant coach for Zimbabwe tour - Jun 03, 2011
- Lara joins Zimbabwe as batting consultant - Nov 18, 2010
- Boon set for a new innings as match referee - Aug 22, 2011
- Groom more youngsters like Kohli, say Indian fans - Mar 25, 2012
- Zimbabwe refuses to rule out opposing Howard's ICC bid - Jun 25, 2010
- India move to third spot in ICC ODI rankings - Oct 26, 2011
- England will get a chance to claim No.1 Test spot - Jul 14, 2011
- Bangladesh cricket develops on Australian model - Mar 21, 2011
- Tendulkar, India broke new ground in international cricket (2010 in Retrospect) - Dec 29, 2010
- Duncan Fletcher appointed Indian cricket team coach - Apr 27, 2011
- Olonga, Zimbabwe's first black cricketer, for renewing sports ties - Aug 16, 2010
Tags: bangladesh, bulawayo, chief executive, cricket board, david morgan, first test, harare, home games, international cricket council, july 1, more than five years, morning herald, play three, president david, sydney morning herald, test matches, tri series, zc, zimbabwe, zimbabwe cricket