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Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE begin their tour of Ireland tomorrow when they square off with the Irish in the first One Day International at Bready Cricket Club in Bready, Northern Ireland.
The Chevrons were whitewashed by Netherlands, losing the ODI series two-nil before they also lost the first Twenty20 International with their only joy coming from the second T20I when they won the clash by 10 runs in the super over after the match had concluded in a tie.
Zimbabwe and Ireland last met in an ODI more than a year ago when the two teams clashed in an International Cricket Council World Cup Qualifier at Harare Sports in March 2018. The Chevrons made up for a poor batting display with a magnificent effort with the ball which saw them win the contest by 107 runs.
There is not much which separates the two teams when one looks at the ICC Men’s ODI rankings with Zimbabwe ranked 10th while Ireland are just a place down.
Zimbabwe will look to their senior players like skipper Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor, Solomon Mire, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine and Elton Chigumbura to deliver with the bat. Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Donald Tiripano, Ainsley Ndlovu and Christopher Ndlovu will play a crucial role with the ball in the ODI series.
The second ODI is on Thursday at Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast while the third final ODI is at the same venue on Sunday. After the ODIs, the two teams meet in three T20Is, one in Belfast while the other two are in Northern Ireland.
While the men proceed with their tour of Ireland, the women have had to cancel their visit to the same country. The Lady Chevrons were meant to take on their Irish counterparts in three ODIs and the same number of T20Is as they gear up for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier to be held in Scotland from 31 August to 7 September.
The Adam Chifo-coached women’s team could not embark on the trip to Ireland after failing to secure the funds they needed for air tickets and allowances after the International Cricket Council suspended funding to Zimbabwe Cricket. ICC cut funding to ZC following the suspension of the cricket body’s board by the Sports and Recreation Commission two weeks ago.
Visas which are understood to have cost US$10 000 for their trips to Ireland and Netherlands had been secured for the players as well as technical staff. From Ireland, the Zimbabwe women were scheduled to travel to Netherlands to play four T20Is with that tour meant to start on 17 July.
Lady Chevrons skipper, Mary Anne-Musonda yesterday took to social media to express her disappointment with failure to travel to Ireland.
“We are so devastated. The hard yards put in by both teams have all gone to waste. So sad, if only something could be done,’’ Musonda posted.
It is not only the women’s tour which has been affected by the suspension of the ZC board as employees, including players who are yet to receive their June salaries due to ICC not sending funds.
An ICC spokesperson confirmed last Tuesday that the goings on at ZC will now be subject for discussion by the world cricket governing body’s board when the decision makers meet in London on 15 July.
This effectively means that unless something happens before the ICC board meeting, ZC will not get any funding.
@Mdawini_29
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Bongani Ndlovu