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NATIONAL cricket team players who failed to step up to the plate in the recent series against New Zealand are set to be axed for the home matches with Pakistan.
After falling to the Black Caps 1-2 in the ODIs and losing the one-off T20, the Chevrons will host an inform Pakistan over three ODIs and three T20s next month.
And Zimbabwe Cricket convener of selectors Kenyon Ziehl says new faces will be given a chance in national team colours.
“We want to give fringe players a chance to showcase what they can do, a lot of youngsters are still in the UK and they are coming end of August, so when they get back we can incorporate them in this whole pool of talented players,” he said.
“Fortunately we also have got a lot of cricket coming up. We have got the Africa Cup coming, in fact we have got two Africa Cup competitions coming up, and a T20 tournament in South Africa early September and early October.
“That’s where the youngsters are going to show their ways and it will be mainly a development side, so it’s all your fringe players, high performance contracted players.
“We have got a much bigger pool now which is wonderful, you know from my last stint as convener we had a small pool of players.
“We probably have got 30 players pushing for places, these players can play, but they need the experience.
“We are also trying to have the best of the rest playing; I think before the Pakistan series comes, we will have three ODIs amongst the best of the rest which is like your national team against your fringe players. Performances in these games will also have a bearing on team selection.”
The Chevrons made a bright start against New Zealand, taking the first ODI by seven wickets, but faltered in the following two matches to lose by 10 wickets and 38 runs, respectively.
They could not bounce back in the T20, losing by a huge 80-run margin.
The poor show has seen come commentators calling for a “smooth transition” that will see more youngsters making it into the side.
The Chevrons must find a way to beat a confident Pakistan who have just had their most “fruitful” tour of Sri Lanka since 2006.
Online Reporter