Nagpur, Oct. 28: If Peter Chingoka, Zimbabwe Cricket’s chairman, is to be believed then the African nation is on the right track to get back into the Test fold.

Zimbabwe withdrew from Test cricket in January 2006, after an extended poor run and politics in the board. Since then, the country has been mainly restricted to playing one-dayers against fellow minnows and competing in the Intercontinental Cup, a second-tier four day championship with teams like the Netherlands, Scotland and the UAE.

But things are slowly getting back to normalcy, according to Chingoka. It was in 2004 when it all started as the players went against the board for selecting mainly inexperienced black players. And the travel restrictions by governments opposed to Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe’s policies further dented their standing in international cricket.

Chingoka, in Nagpur as a BCCI guest for the second India-Australia one-dayer, said the new franchise-based system and return of former captains David Houghton and Alastair Campbell has brought in a positive development.

"We have started this new system, where we have five teams in place of 10. It will improve the quality of the competition, where strong players play against strong players. It’s the same concept as the IPL, but because it is too young we have to fund it ourselves. It is run independently," Chingoka said.

"We have some of our experienced players coming back into the system. David Houghton has returned as a technical consultant and he is also helping the national coach as well as the individual players.

"Alastair Campbell has become the national selector. It helps to have them back. Over the last four-five years we have been lacking in experience, with no senior players to turn to for advice," the 55-year-old explained. Not only that, others like Raymond Price, Terry Duffin, Dirk Viljoen and Charles Coventry have returned to the fold and former skipper Heath Streak is reportedly close to being appointed head coach of the national team.

The effects are beginning to show results. Recently, Zimbabwe won a one day series 4-1 against Kenya and on Tuesday, scored a comprehensive win over Bangladesh, a Test-playing nation. They are also scheduled to play South Africa in a couple of one-dayers next month, which Chingoka believed will help them get back to the Test fold.

"South Africa has taken a commitment to help us as our neighbours to help us back to Test level. They will be sitting with us to agree on areas they can help us with, from age-group teams to national team to academies to women’s cricket."