SOMERSET play two big games in the space of three dasys when they host the controversy dogged Pakistan side in a 50-over game today (Thursday) before playing Glamorgan in their final group match in the CB40.

While today’s game will be played under the media spotlight following the match fixing allegations in the Lord’s test Match, for Somerset the CB40 game against Glamorgan Dragons is of greater importance because a win will guarantee that the Cidermen get a home tie in the semi-finals.

Games against international opposition are always something that professional cricketers relish as Craig Kieswetter, who was named in the England T20 squad to play two games Pakistan next week explained.

“This is a great opportunity for us to test ourselves against an international side. Obviously some of the younger guys who will be playing can see at first hand what its like to be up against international calibre players which is good for the development of the club so you can bet that we will be going out there and give it our best shot because it’s a big game.”

He went on: “I have got the two T20s coming up on Sunday and Tuesday so I am going to be using it as a good exercise to face some of the Pakistan bowlers and get a feel for the variations that they use.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s CB40 match captain Marcus Trescothick said: “We could call it Cup Final Saturday because obviously we need to win to ensure that we get a home semi-final draw so there is a lot of work still to do.”

Somerset return to championship action on Tuesday when they take on Lancashire at the County Ground in their penultimate game of the season starting at 10.30am.

Currently the Cidermen are 16 points behind the leaders, who also have a game in hand so they will be hoping for fine weather and the opportunity to press hard and get a vital victory to keep their title hopes alive.