In a busy and traumatic September which is not over yet, Azhar would like to treat the Sahara Cup debacle of 4-1 as a momentary lapse of form, not to speak of situations far beyond his control as India attempts to retain the tag of the most improved international side of 1998 having won four one-day titles and a Test series against world's best, Australia, in the past nine months.

With no clash of dates and the team restored to full strength, not to speak of accompanying confusion over who is coming or going, Azhar is now focussed not to let Zimbabwe nurture any hopes of squaring up to a weak India and running away with the booty.

Quelling Zimbabwe's charge will not be easy though since the two teams have an even record -- a win and a loss from two games-- in this African outpost and world's best batsman Sachin Tendulkar, ironically, has rarely run up big scores against them.

Sure, he has had the worst stick out of this jumble of September, having been led to Commonwealth Games in Malayasia and then air-dashed -- after a cancellation -- to Toronto, only to return in less than 48 hours to Mumbai and board yet another plane to Zimbabwe, with a transit wait of five hours thrown in for good measure in Johannesburg.

By last evening, the Indians had checked in albeit without Robin Singh who had his baggage missing and spent a couple of hours with the airport officials trying to have it restored at the earliest.

Fortunately, Robin Singh's missing baggage is not his kit. The allrounder looks all set to return to the national side, as do appear Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, the trio who along with Javagal Srinath and Ajit Agarkar would form the bowling bench of Indian attack.

For the final spot, the state of the wicket would help decide as to betweenseamer Debashish Mohanty and left-arm spinner Rahul Sanghvi who plays. By afternoon, the Indians were yet to give it a look-in having practised at the Bulawayo Athletic Club in the morning.

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, similarly look forward to the weekend engagements. Twice in India they came close to winning before floundering which skipper Alistair Campbell blames for lack of ``self-disbelief''.

Yet, they are a formidable presence in their backyard. More so when a 17-year-old rookie pacer, Mluleki Nkala, is all set to make his international debut tomorrow.

Nkala, who was sent to the Australian Academy early this year and who, according to coach Dave Houghton ``would have been a certainty to play long ago for the national side if it was not for the fact he was yet to clear his a grade in schools,'' was brilliant in the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur this month, returning figures of three for six in four overs against Malaysia.

The challenge Campbell's team is facing is not of competition --which they offer in good measure to international teams -- but of freezing when in sight of victories. Batsmen have been largely responsible for this inexplicable slipups but Campbell feels disasters are a thing of the past.

Teams (likely)

India: Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Mohammed Azharuddin (capt), Ajay Jadeja, Robin Singh, Nayan Mongia, Ajit Agarkar, Javagal Srinath, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Debashish Mohanty and Rahul Sanghvi.

Zimbabwe: Alistair Campbell (capt), Andy Flower, Murray Goodwin, Craig Evans, G Brent, Paul Strang, Andy Whittal, Mluleki Nkala, John Rennis, Craig Wishart, Heath Streak, Adam Huckle, T Madonda, M Mbangwa.

Umpires: Ian Robinson and Russel Tiffin.

Match referee: Alan Smith.

Hours of play (IST): 1300 to 1630 and 1710 to 2040 hrs.