BBC SPORT | Cricket | Campbell to captain Zimbabwe

Alistair Campbell will captain Zimbabwe against Pakistan in the first Test in Harare on 9 November, replacing the injured Heath Streak.

Campbell, a left-handed batsman of some considerable experience, was captain of Zimbabwe between 1996 and 1999.

But he subsequently resigned after a series of poor performances by the team and a loss of personal form.

He has played 58 Tests and has an average of 26.91, having hit two centuries and 17 fifties in his career.

G Whittall
Guy Whittall stepped into the breach last year

Zimbabwe's captaincy has been a merry-go-round in recent times.

Just over a year ago, it was Guy Whittall who deputised when Streak was injured then.

But then Brian Murphy, a leg-spinner of moderate ability, was named permanent captain after Streak resigned.

Murphy lacked confidence and picked up injuries and in August this year Streak began another stint as captain.

The Zimbabwe Cricket Union had hoped Streak would be able to do the job for the whole of the 2002-03 season, but last month he dislocated his shoulder in a road accident.

Campbell has a cloud over him, after receiving a suspended ban from international cricket last year for saying the team was being "torn apart" by race issues.

Streak dislocates shoulder

But he now faces an important task in attempting to put pressure on a Pakistani side in transition and who themselves are desperately short of form.

The Test series is very much a lower-division clash, with Pakistan eighth and Zimbabwe ninth in the ICC Test Championship table.

The Zimbabwe squad also includes young batsman Hamilton Masakadza, released from his university studies.

Pakistan, meanwhile, have Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana back from injury.

Zimbabwe squad for first Test: *Alistair Campbell, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Dion Ebrahim, Hamilton Masakadza, Guy Whittall, +Tatenda Taibu, Andy Blignaut, Mluleki Nkala, Travis Friend, Raymond Price, Douglas Hondo, Mark Vermeulen, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Sean Ervine, Richie Sims, Gavin Ewing, Campbell Macmillan.


	Links to more Cricket stories