World Cup Pool A, Bulawayo - Starts 0730 GMT Tuesday
Pakistan's players fell out over a game of football
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Faced with the prospect of a make or break match, it is hardly the best preparation for teammates to be involved in brawling with each other during practice.
Such was the case, however, as tempers flared among the Pakistan squad during an impromptu game of football at the Queen's Sports Club.
Reports claim Younis Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq squared up after a tackle and when Saeed Anwar tried to intervene, he was pushed to the ground.
Inzamam later returned alone to the team hotel with officials claiming he was feeling unwell.
Skipper Waqar Younis tried to play down the incident by saying: "It's nothing new. We always have this problem when we play soccer."
But it was a clear indication of the pressure Pakistan are under for a game they must win - and win by a wide margin - to pip England for the third qualifcation spot for the Super Six phase.
Inzamam, in particular, has been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons after managing only 16 runs in five innings so far.
But they may need him to hit form against Zimbabwe with Waqar hoping to win the toss, bat first and rely on his players scoring in excess of 300.
Coach Richard Pybus believes his side are good enough to salvage a qualifying place, which has been in doubt since last weekend's defeat by arch-rivals India.
"They've pulled themselves together after losing to India and they know they can still make it if they play flat out - they will," he said.
Shoaib Akhtar was given a warm welcome at the airport
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Pakistan go into the game knowing they won a one-day series in Zimbabwe by a 5-0 margin last year.
But they will not make the mistake of underestimating the home side, who will be bolstered by the return of spin bowling all-rounder Grant Flower.
He will replace either Mark Vermeulen or Doug Marillier and victory for Zimbabwe by whatever margin will see Zimbabwe join Australia and India in the Super Sixes.
They have forged an excellent team spirit which has not been affected by the protests of Andy Flower and Henry Olonga against the national government.
Should they lose, it could be the end of Andy Flower's international career with contracts to play in England and Australia likely to be his main focus of attention in future.
He will be badly missed, having scored 6,648 runs in one-day internationals and 4,794 in Tests - both national record totals.
"Our top order will have to be much more confident, even
domineering, so that the pressure is taken off our middle order," skipper Heath Streak commented.
Zimbabwe (from): Heath Streak (captain), Andy Blignaut, Dion Ebrahim, Sean
Ervine, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Travis Friend, Douglas
Hondo, Doug Marillier, Brian Murphy, Henry Olonga, Tatenda
Taibu, Mark Vermeulen, Guy Whittall, Craig Wishart.
Pakistan (from): Waqar Younis (captain), Saeed Anwar, Taufeeq Umar, Saleem
Elahi, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shahid
Afridi, Abdur Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood, Wasim Akram, Rashid
Latif, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq.
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