Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zimbabwe senior cricket team returned to training this past weekend ahead of the T20 Tri-series against Namibia and South Africa from August 28 to September 6 at the FNB Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek.
Justin Sammons and his Chevrons will then have a short turnaround before they host Australia in a three-match One-Day International series, slated for September 15-20 at Harare Sports Club.
For Sammons, it was important to give his charges rest after back-to-back visits by Bangladesh and India.
“We start preparations this week,” said Sammons.
“Obviously, the guys have come off two months with the camps and then a full month of cricket, and they have had a few weeks off just to refresh so that they can come back mentally and physically fresh.”
With the 2027 ODI World Cup months away, it goes without saying that a lot of high expectations and energy will be pointed towards Australia’s visit.
However, Sammons has refused to brush aside the Tri-series, which he believes should help prepare his charges mentally and give them some competitive game time.
“Every tour is important,” he said.
“It is a great opportunity for the group to continue improving and to continue to gain experience.
“This is a T20 series, so as we move towards 2028 and the World Cup there, it’s another opportunity for the group to gain more information and help keep us at our best.”
“The objective is to keep improving and, obviously, go there and hopefully lift that trophy.
“That would be amazing if we can actually win the whole thing,” he said.
“Obviously, the Australia tour is different because that’s 50-over cricket and this is a T20 format,” added Sammons.
“However, the Tri-series will give us an opportunity to be match-ready in terms of the intensity needed to obviously match Australia.
“So from that point of view, it does help as it will aid us with the intensity that’s needed,” he said.
The T20 game remains one of the Chevrons’ favourite formats, with Zimbabwe fresh off their best performances and finishes at the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Blessing Muzarabani, Zimbabwe’s top bowler, was retained by the Gulf Giants for the World International T20 tournament in the United Arab Emirates.
Muzarabani returns after missing last season due to injury.
“It’s awesome to see Blessing (Muzarabani) continue to grow in terms of his sort of brand, if you want to call it that, within these leagues,” said Sammons.
“It is brilliant news and great to see. Again, it’s more experience for him and experience that he can, hopefully, bring back to the Chevrons group,” he said.
