Vermeulen trial set for January 10

Vermeulen trial set for January 10

VERMEULEN in court earlier this year

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• West Indies surge to 3-1 lead over Zimbabwe

• West Indies take 2-1 series lead over Zimbabwe

• West Indies level series in Harare

• Zimbabwe beat West Indies by 31 runs

• Zim draw India in 2009 World Cup

• Police probe journalists' cricket ground fight

• Zimbabwe shock Aussies

• SA seal 3-0 ODI series win over Zim

• Taibu completes Zimbabwe return

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• ICC: No evidence of impropriety for self-gain

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THE trial of former Zimbabwe Test cricket batsman Mark Vermeulen, accused of setting ablaze the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy in Harare, is set down for January 10 next year.

Prosecutor Tawanda Zvekare told a Harare magistrate on Wednesday that all the necessary medical evidence was now available and they were ready for trial.

With the consent of the defence counsel Advocate Eric Matinenga, and the prosecution, Harare regional magistrate William Bhila remanded Vermeulen to next year for trial.

Vermeulen is being charged with malicious damage to property after he allegedly burnt two buildings belonging to ZC at the Harare Sports Club.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe national cricket team are expected to tour Pakistan early next year for a five one-day internationals series.

The team is scheduled to arrive in Karachi on January 12 for a tour that will also see them play one four-day and one three-day game.

The tour will start with a four-day match from January 14 at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex followed by a three-day match from January 22 at the Asghar Ali Shah Stadium.

The ODI series starts on January 26.

The first ODI match takes place in Hyderabad before matches at Karachi, Multan, Faisalabad and Sheikhupura.

The last time Pakistan and Zimbabwe met was in Kingston, Jamaica, in a World Cup match where Pakistan registered a big win.

Zimbabwe last toured Pakistan in September 2004 for a tri-nations ODI tournament, also involving Sri Lanka, where they failed to win a match.

According to reports from Pakistan, the hosts will be looking at some fresh faces during the five-match ODI series against Zimbabwe as this provides Pakistan
selectors with the chance to test players in three departments, before Australia visit in March for a full tour.

"We will definitely try out some new faces in whichever department we need them in,” said Salahuddin Ahmed, Pakistan chief selector. "That’s not to say that we are taking Zimbabwe lightly, but we need to assess players on the fringes of the national side and this is a good opportunity.

"We’re also keeping an eye on the progress of Anwar Ali (former Under-19 star) and Sohail Khan.

"Khurram Manzoor, Khalid Latif and Nasir Jamshed have been very good this season from all reports and they are definitely in the mix for that series, as is Asim Kamal."
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