HARARE, ZIMBABW: Pakistan is returning the favor by touring Zimbabwe for two Twenty20 internationals and three one-dayers starting on Sunday.

Pakistan visit in a reciprocal agreement after Zimbabwe became the first test team to play in Pakistan in six years back in May. That was Pakistan's first home series against a full ICC member team since 2009, when gunmen attacked Sri Lanka's team bus on its way to a game.

Pakistan won four of the five games against Zimbabwe at home, with the other abandoned because of rain.

Still, Pakistan coach Waqar Younis said on arrival in Zimbabwe that the Zimbabweans deserve respect, especially after they beat India and New Zealand in limited-overs games at home in recent months.

"Zimbabwe has always been a competitive side to play against in the limited overs, and especially in their own home conditions," Younis said.

Pakistan left out ODI captain Azhar Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq for the T20 games. They will travel for the one-dayers.

Instead, three uncapped players have been included for the T20 series: fast bowler Imran Khan Jr., offspinner Bilal Asif and allrounder Aamer Yamin. They could be tried out in Zimbabwe in preparation for the World Twenty20 in India in March.

The Twenty20 games are on Sunday and Tuesday, followed by the three-game ODI series starting on Thursday.

For Zimbabwe, it's a similar tale, with the strugglers losing 11 of 14 limited-overs matches since the World Cup at the start of the year, with only brief highlights against India and New Zealand.

"While it will be nice to say we want to win every game, what we want to do is to show improvement and if we can do that then it will reflect on the wins column," Zimbabwe coach Dav Whatmore said.

Whatmore called the Zimbabwe team a "work in progress."