BULAWAYO (Zimbabwe), Aug 21: A South African squad without Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher will take on Zimbabwe in the first of three One-day Internationals on Wednesday at Bulawayo in a tour that has been highlighted for all the wrong reasons.

The three-ODI contest has been scheduled despite widespread criticism of South Africa’s decision to tour a poverty-stricken Zimbabwe and the ease with which South Africa ‘A’ wiped aside the hosts last week, has done nothing to detract critics.

The media remains confused over Kallis’s omission from the squad for the Twenty20 World Championship and with Boucher’s spirited reaction to his friend and team-mate’s fate.

Zimbabwe are boosted by the return of former captain Tatenda Taibu, who quit the country in November 2005 after he claimed he and his family were threatened by people with connections to the board. He attempted to find a career in Bangladesh, England and Namibia but failed to establish himself.

Zimbabwe last won an ODI against Bangladesh in February but it has been close to four years since their last victory over a historically tougher opposition, a win over the West Indies in November 2003.

The second and third ODIs will be played on Aug 25 and 26 respectively at the Harare Sports Club.—Agencies