Zimbabwe target Test return in 2011

Peter Chingoka, the Zimbabwe Cricket chairman, has said Zimbabwe were looking to return to Test cricket in May 2011 with a home series against Bangladesh, following a recent meeting with ICC president David Morgan and chief executive Haroon Lorgat.

"We will resume our Test commitments against Bangladesh at home in May 2011," Chingoka was quoted as saying by Associated Press. "We will then have gradual progression afterwards by playing sides we think we can compete with, like West Indies and New Zealand. We are developing a strong and competitive domestic competition as a result of the ICC task team's recommendations, and we are now looking to make a gradual return to Test cricket sometime after the World Cup in 2011."

Chingoka added that South Africa had offered to host a one-off Test between the teams each year. "We are indebted to Cricket South Africa for their continuous support," he said.

Zimbabwe have not played a Test since 2005, after political upheaval ravaged the team and left it unable to compete at the highest level. Slowly, as order gradually returned to the country, the cricket team's fortunes improved too, culminating in Zimbabwe's unexpected success in the tri-series they hosted this month, where they reached the final.

Chingoka felt Zimbabwe were ready to return to the Test game thanks to the series of steps taken by the board, like setting up a new high-performance coaching centre and a revamped domestic structure, which includes a franchise-based Twenty20 tournament.

Both the domestic tournaments and the recently-completed Tri-Series were well attended by local supporters and Chingoka hoped cricket could establish itself as the most popular sport in the country. "We hope the return to Test cricket will continue the growth and development of people playing cricket in Zimbabwe as we aim to make cricket the number one sport in Zimbabwe within the next five years."

Morgan was delighted to see the progress being made and praised the Zimbabwe set-up for including former players, like national selector Alastair Campbell, in the management of the side. "I take great pleasure in the number of smiling faces around Zimbabwe Cricket. It is very comforting for the ICC to observe the improvement and success of the Zimbabwe team in recent months.

"It is also very good from an ICC perspective to see former players returning to the squad and also taking up support roles around the team. The recent results have been a good story for the Zimbabwe cricket team and the ICC is pleased to have played a part in that progress."