Both were neamed in the team of 12 announced by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union yesterday.
For Madondo, it will be yet another breakthrough for black sport in Zimbabwe, following in the footsteps of Henry Olonga, Everton Matambanadzo and Mupmelelo Mbangwa.
Those two apart, the selectors have kept faith with the the bulk of the travelling party which toured Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Madondo, who is likely to come in to bat at No. 7, is also a useful bowler of medium-pace, while Viljoen will almost certainly open the batting with Grant Flower. Gavin Rennie has been dropped after a disappointing tour.
But, before the Test, Pakistan play Matabeleland in a one-day match at Bulawayo Athletic Club today. And this team, too, has had changes made to it. Out go Craig Evans and Heath Streak, and in come Mark Abrams and Bryan Strang, who will obviously use the fixture as a warm-up for his recall to the Test side. Henry Olonga, initially penned in to play for the Zimbabwe Board XI against Boland in a three-day game at Alexandra Sports Club in Harare (from today), has also been drafted into the Matabeleland side, while Mbangwa has a nagging ankle injury.
Matabeleland coach, New Zealander Bob Blair, said yesterday that they would announce their 11 for today's game shortly before the start this morning. This provincial side includes players who were on the 2 1/2 months' tour to Sri Lanka and New Zealand. They are all-rounder Guy Whittall, spinner Andrew Whittall, Dirk Viljoen, Adam Huckle, Olonga and Strang.
The batting will probably be opened by former Test palyer Mark Dekker and Ross Craig, with Warren Gilmour expected to keep wicket.
The Pakistan team, which arrived yesterday via Harare, have reportedly made two changes to their side, although this could not be confirmed at the time of going to press. According to unconfirmed reports Pakistan have sent home Shoaib Aktar and F. Aktar for disciplinary reasons and called up Shaeed Afridi and A. Safaraz. Efforts to obtain comment on the matter from the Pakistan management last night proved unsuccessful.
In the wake of thunder across the city yesterday afternoon, the covers at BAC were pulled on and no instpection rendered possible. However, if the BAC track plays true, then it will favour the batsmen.