18 September 2004	Saturday	02 Shaban 1425

LAHORE, Sept 17: Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu gives his inexperienced team an even chance of winning the triangular one-day tournament against Sri Lanka and hosts Pakistan in two weeks' time.

"I am a positive guy and I give my young team a 50-50 chance of winning," he told a news conference here on Friday after Zimbabwe arrived for a month-long tour. "It is a very inexperienced side having nine new players who are learning with each passing day and playing against superior teams like Pakistan and Sri Lanka will help in their grooming and confidence building."

The 15-strong Zimbabwe squad, who have just lost to England and Sri Lanka in the ICC Champions Trophy in England, will play a seven-match one-day series starting from Sept 30.

"This is a young side made up of under-18 and under-19 players and they know at this level they have to learn quickly," Taibu said. "We took a lot of heart and positives from our performance against Sri Lanka in England and we are confident of improving and moving forward here."

The 21-year-old has been leading the depleted side after 14 leading white players led by Heath Streak rebelled against the Zimbabwe Cricket Union earlier this year. The decision led to Zimbabwe losing 12 one-dayers and also forced the International Cricket Council (ICC) to suspend their Test status for the year.

The ICC has scheduled a hearing later this month to hear out the charges of racism made by former captain Streak against the ZCU. Zimbabwe coach Phil Simmons, the former West Indian batsman, said the players were aware that age was on their side.

"It has not been easy for them in the last few months," he said. "And this is going to be a tough series for them against two very good one-day sides. We just have to guard against getting rolled over by the opposition."

Taibu, international cricket's youngest ever captain when he was given the leadership earlier this year, was of the view that the tour of Pakistan would be beneficial in many aspects to lift the performance of a newly formed side.

"We are here to play exciting cricket and to learn more to show progress and our objectives are very clear in this tour, "he said. Simmons, meanwhile, said they are delighted to be in Pakistan and see no security problems and look forward to an exciting series.

"It is a very important tour for us to achieve our desired goals and top of which is to give experience and exposure to players," he remarked. "It is a talented side which needs experience and I strongly feel they have all the potential to beat their rivals."

SQUAD: Tatenda Taibu (captain), Dion Ebrahim, Brendan Taylor, Mark Vermeulen, Alester Maregwede, Vusisuzi Sibanda, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Tawanda Mupariwa, Mluleki Nkala, Tinashe Panyangara, Douglas Hondo, Edward Rainsford, Elton Chigumbura, Prosper Utseya, Graeme Cremer.

OFFICIALS: Phil Simmons (coach), Mohamed Meman (manager),Amato Machikicho (physiotherapist),Tinashe Ruswa (match analyst), Dean Woodford (fitness trainer), Macsood Ebrahim (selector on tour). -Agencies