dyton mupawaenda
Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE women’s cricket coach Gary Brent is excited by the progress that his team is making in their training camp that began in India a few days ago.
Brent, who is leading a squad of 16 players in Mumbai, believes the two-week programme will give his team a sound preparation for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier set for Uganda in December. The Lady Chevrons are conducting training sessions at some state-of-the-art facilities offered by their hosts at the Omtex Icwc Cricket Institute.
“This is an amazing facility, really amazing. You have got everything that you want cricket-wise. The girls are staying a walking distance away and the catering has been excellent. We are privileged to be able to utilize a facility like this and we don’t take it lightly,” said Brent. The team is captained by Mary-Anne Musonda and has senior players like Josephine Nkomo, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Ashley Ndiraya and Precious Marange.
There are several changes to the team that toured Thailand this year.
Wicketkeeper-batter Modester Mupachikwa missed the camp as she is currently playing and coaching in Australia, while regulars Pellagia Mujaji and Loryn Phiri did not make the squad.
Batter Nyasha Gwanzura and wicketkeeper Chiyedza Dhururu are back in the fold, having last featured for the national side in May 2022 during the triangular series hosted by Namibia. Teenagers — Kelis Ndhlovu Adel Zimunu and bowler Kudzai Chigora- are part of the squad, along with 14-year-old Beloved Biza who had a good outing in the domestic games. Brent said the training camp has so far brought tangible results.
“It has been excellent; it’s been really good,” said Brent yesterday.
“The girls have responded really well; you can see the energy levels are very high. We are getting together as a team and we had a great session yesterday, just talking about our team and how we can better that and the girls are responding so well. So it’s been great,” he said.
“I think our skills have been decent. Mainly, this camp is just an educational camp on what we should be doing on a daily basis and also working together as a team.
“I think that’s obviously one of the areas that we need to up our game and the girls are responding really well to it and I think it’s more fun for them. When everybody works as a team, everyone really enjoys it more. So it’s going well. Zimbabwe are preparing for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier set for Uganda in December.
They will be joined in the regional qualifier by neighbours Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and the hosts Uganda. Two teams will proceed to the final qualification stage, the global qualifier.
Zimbabwe Training Squad:
Mary-Anne Musonda (captain), Josephine Nkomo, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Ashley Ndiraya, Kelis Ndhlovu, Chiyedza Dhururu, Nomvelo Sibanda, Precious Marange, Audrey Mazvishaya, Nyasha Gwanzura, Francesca Chipare, Loreen Tshuma, Adel Zimunu, Kudzai Chigora, Lindokuhle Mabhera, Beloved Biza
Online Reporter