'We are in a positive frame of mind' - Utseya

The touring Zimbabwean team is in a confident mood ahead of the five-match ODI series against Pakistan starting next week, according to Prosper Utseya, Zimbabwe's captain. The Zimbabweans folded meekly in their only practice match before the series, not only losing to Patron's XI side by an innings and 34 runs but also failing to impress with either the bat or the ball.

"We didn't play to the best of our abilities [in the tour match] but we did manage to get a lot of positives out of the loss," Utseya said at a press conference today. "Our bowlers got a chance to bowl long spells against good opposition and a couple of our batsmen scored over fifty, so that is a good sign."

Utseya, who had to sit out the match due to an ankle injury he picked up in South Africa, will face a fitness test on the eve of the first ODI. Rating his chances of leading the side for the opening ODI as very good, Utseya warned doubters not to write off his team on strength or age.

"We are young in age but a few of our players have played over 50 ODIs and with victories over Australia and West Indies behind us, we are in a positive frame of mind and in a confident mood."

Utseya welcomed the return of senior players to the fold, especially Ray Price - who got four wickets against Patron's XI in the tour match - and Gary Brent - who put on a defiant 96-run seventh-wicket partnership with Keith Maruma - adding that experience was a key ingredient if Zimbabwe were to make a successful Test comeback.

"We obviously want to return to Test cricket and for that, we need to put some wins under our belt. Price forms a good spin bowling partnership with me and together with Brent, they bring in a lot of experience.

"We have a good all-round team and these guys can help us get more experience. We need to put ourselves in a good position not only for this series, but also for the future and the only way we can do that is by winning."

Zimbabwe will get a chance to work on Utseya's words on Monday when they take on the home side under lights at the National Stadium, Karachi.