Security concerns, rain cloud Harare Test

Heightened security was in evidence at the Harare Sports Club (HSC) as weather disrupted preparations for the first Test between Zimbabwe and Pakistan, which starts on Saturday.

At least 30 guards ringed the HSC field this week while ground staff attempted to prepare the pitch between showers that began falling on Tuesday and were forecast to continue through Friday.

"The guards are there because the last thing Zimbabwe needs with the World Cup coming up is a breach of security," said a Zimbabwe Cricket Union official who declined to be named.

Zimbabwe celebrated 10 years as a Test playing nation on Wednesday and are scheduled to play their six World Cup pool matches in Harare and Bulawayo next year.

There are, however, doubts whether Australia and England, whose governments have locked horns with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, will travel to the country to honour their fixtures.

A delegation, headed by International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed, is scheduled to arrive in Zimbabwe on November 26 to assess safety in Harare and Bulawayo.

The president of the ZCU, Peter Chingoka, said he did not know whether security at HSC had been heightened as a private company decided security requirements.

Chingoka said the increased value of the extensively refurbished ground's assets might have prompted a review of the number of guards needed to secure the venue.

"There's a lot of new equipment at the ground now -- perhaps that's what has led to more guards, if it has -- and if people want to take the law into their own hands then the law must take its course with them," Chingoka said.

Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell said the wet weather would influence the way he approached the match.

"Even if there is sunshine now it's going to be wet come Saturday morning, and the toss will be very interesting," he said.

Campbell captained Zimbabwe from 1996 to 1999 before resigning to focus on his batting, but returned as skipper after Heath Streak dislocated his shoulder in a traffic accident during the Champions Trophy in Colombo in September.

Campbell said he now felt better equipped for the challenges of the job.

"I've matured a lot and learnt a lot, and I've learnt to cope better under pressure," said Campbell, who will relinquish the captaincy to Streak when the latter regains his fitness.

Campbell expected Pakistan, who are smarting from a run of poor results including a 3-0 drubbing in a Test series against Australia, to play aggressive cricket in the two match series.

"They're a strange side," Campbell said of the visitors. "When they're down they're really down, but when they're in a corner they come out all guns blazing.

"They are going to want to put in a big performance against us."

LOWEST SCORE

Pakistan coach Richard Pybus felt inexperience at the crease was at the root of Pakistan's problems against Australia, which included being dismissed for their lowest scores of 59 and 53 in the second test at Sharjah.

"We just had a really young batting line up against Australia," said Pybus, who has been laid low by food poisoning.

"Having Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana back in the side will be good for our batting because our middle order will be a lot more stable."

Pakistan will play five one day internationals after the Test series before moving on to South Africa for another two Tests and five one day internationals.

"We're looking at it as a southern African tour of four Tests and 10 one day internationals, and we've set our targets accordingly," Pybus said.

Squads:

Zimbabwe: Dion Ebrahim, Hamilton Masakadza, Alistair Campbell (captain), Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Guy Whittall, Tatenda Taibu, Andy Blignaut, Blessing Mahwire, Ray Price, Henry Olonga, Mark Vermeulen, Mluleki Nkala.

Pakistan: Waqar Younis (captain), Inzamam-ul-Haq, Taufeeq Umar, Shahid Afridi, Salim Elahi, Yousuf Youhana, Hasan Raza, Faisal Iqbal, Younis Khan, Rashid Latif, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Muhammad Sami, Muhammad Zahid, Saqlain Mushtaq.

Mail Cricket Editor