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Lawrence Moyo
Head Zimpapers Sports
THE renewal process for the senior national cricket team has started with several changes being made to the Chevrons ahead of a three-match one-day international series against Ireland at Harare Sports Club starting this morning.
Two more matches will follow on Friday and Sunday.
Seven players, who have been included in the squad for the short series against Ireland, were not part of the Chevrons who missed out on qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in the qualifiers hosted in June-July.
Today, the Chevrons resume ODI action with a new-look squad following the axing of Tendai Chatara, Wessly Madhevere and Tadiwanashe Marumani while captain Craig Ervine, all-rounder Sean Williams and Brad Evans are sidelined by injury.
In comes Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Tanaka Chivanga, Faraz Akram, Brandon Mavuta, Milton Shumba and Tony Munyonga, who have done well in the domestic leagues this year.
However, cricket fans were yesterday unanimous in calling for the inclusion of Nick Welch, Jonathan Campbell and Brian Bennett on the strength of their domestic form.
As proof to the renewal process, only interim captain Sikandar Raza and Innocent Kaia are aged over 30 years.
While the Chevrons have now moved to the 50-over matches, the recent T20 internationals have proved costly to the players who have been axed, including Chatara, Madhevere and Marumani.
Chatara’s biggest undoing was conceding 20 runs in the 18th over against Uganda when the required run rate was just under eight runs an over, resulting in a humiliating five-wicket loss that cost the Chevrons a place at next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
He was excluded from the remaining matches of the qualifiers, the three-match series against Ireland and might be on his way out of the Chevrons completely.
Chatara was the third best bowler for the Chevrons at the 50-over World Cup qualifiers as he took nine wickets in five games but he was again the fall guy in the must-win game against Scotland as he conceded 15 runs in the 49th over as the Scots moved from 179/7 after 45 overs to 234/8 after 50 overs.
Zimbabwe squad
Raza Sikandar (captain), Akram Faraz, Burl Ryan, Chivanga Tanaka, Gumbie Joylord, Jongwe Luke, Kaia Innocent, Kaitano Takudzwanashe, Kamunhukamwe Tinashe, Madande Clive, Masakadza Wellington, Mavuta Brandon, Munyonga Tony, Muzarabani Blessing, Ngarava Richard, Shumba Milton
Online Reporter