HARARE, Nov 1: Alistair Campbell is the new Zimbabwe cricket captain for the tour by Pakistan which begins here Monday.

And Campbell immediately launched a psychology salvo at the Pakistanis who are licking their wounds following three successive defeats by Australia.

Campbell suggested that because several Pakistan players will be fighting not only for their places but also for their future careers and because of Pakistan’s recent internal problems, the advantage lay with the home side.

Pakistan will be playing two Test matches and five One-day Internationals over the next month. The first Test gets under way here from Nov 9.

After arriving here Friday evening, Pakistan will begin a three-day match against Zimbabwe ‘A’ on Monday.

Campbell takes over the captaincy from Heath Streak, who suffered a shoulder injury in a motor accident in Colombo last month. Streak will not be fit to play until January next year.

Zimbabwe squad:

Alistair Campbell (captain), Andy Flower (vice-captain), Guy Whittall, Mark Vermeulin, Grant Flower, Tatenda Taibu, Blessing Mahwire, Campbell McMillan, Hamilton Masakadza, Andy Blignaut, Douglas Hondo, Mluleki Nkala, Dion Ebrahim, Stewart Matsikenyeri, Sean Ervine, Richard Sims, Gavin Ewing, Raymond Price, Travis Friend.—AFP