adminDANGAMVURA-BASED Zimbabwe fast bowler, Tendai Chatara, has been ruled out of action for up to six months, after fracturing his left leg.
The 24-year-old Mountaineers’ player suffered the injury in Mutare last week, in a collision with a goalkeeper while playing social soccer to keep fit during the local cricket off-season.
An X-ray confirmed that Chatara suffered an oblique fracture of the tibia and a transverse fracture of the fibula. A specialist then recommended that there was no need for surgery.
“We took the pace bowler to Dr Bowers and I discussed with the specialist the available options.
“He advised conservative management, saying that compared to an operation, that treatment will have fewer side-effects which will enable the player to have fewer problems when he starts practice and playing again,” said Zimbabwe national team physiotherapist Anesu Mupotaringa.
Chatara will be in a full cast immobilisation for four weeks and a below-knee cast immobilisation for six weeks, depending on X-ray results after the initial four weeks.
A programme is being set up for him to continue working on his upper body and core while his leg heals.
“We also have a diet plan in place which is high in calcium to promote quick healing and strong bones,” Mupotaringa added.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe will compete in the Africa T20 Cup tournament, which will be in South Africa from the 4th of September to the 4th of October.
Kenya and Namibia will also participate in the tournament, which will also include 12 CSA affiliates as well as associate member KwaZulu-Natal Inland.
It will be hosted by Cricket South Africa (CSA).
The tournament will consist of four pools of four teams each with the winners of each pool advancing to the semi-finals on the 3rd of October and the last two to the final which is on the next day.
Zimbabwe is in pool A alongside Western Province, Northens and Easterns. All the games in Pool A will be played at Sahara Wilmore Park in Benoni.
Play will be on weekends.
During the pool stages — there will be two matches each day with the first in the afternoon and the second in the evening on the Friday and Saturday — and the first mid-morning and the second in the afternoon on the Sunday.
“I am delighted that SuperSport will be providing live and full coverage of 10 playing days, including the semifinals and final,” said CSA chief executive officer Haroon Lorgat, at the launch of the tournament.
To help them develop their talent by having them play with their seniors, there will be at least two under-21 players in each team.
CSA also announced the appointment of former South Africa bowler Makhaya Ntini as the Africa T20 Cup ambassador. — Zimbabwe Cricket/Senior Sports Reporter.
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