Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
TO say that Blessing Muzarabani’s excursion at the Indian Premier League has been anything but memorable would be a grave understatement.
The famed T20 cricket competition has reached its business end with only four teams remaining.
Muzarabani and his Kolkata Knight Riders franchise failed to reach the play-offs, finishing seventh with six wins and seven losses from their 14 matches.
Of the 14 matches, Muzarabani played only two matches and took four wickets, which is rather a huge downturn from his ICC T20 World Cup performance.
There, the Zimbabwe seamer played in all of the Chevrons games, taking a total of 13 wickets
Muzarabani was forced to watch the larger part of the IPL and Kolkata Knight Riders matches from the dugout.
This, all the while, as he faced backlash from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after choosing the IPL over the rival competition.
He has since been slapped with a two-year ban from the PSL.
Zimbabwe Chevrons coach Justin Sammons revealed he has had a few chats with Muzarabani to lend his support.
“It is a great experience, great exposure to different coaches and the best players in the world.
“I have no concerns that they didn’t play much as the exposure and experience is just as good
“These are top leagues and there’s only a certain amount of overseas players that can play, so it’s sort of expected.
“As long as they keep working on their game, while they are over there and pick the brains off different people, then I think it’s good.
“Blessing will be back soon and we have had little chats, here and there.
“He is good.”
Brian Bennet and Ryan Burl are already back in the country with Muzarabani expected to join in when the Chevrons regroup to resume their preparations for next month’s Bangladesh series.
The two nations will square off in a one-off, three One Day Internationals and three T20 matches series, slated for June 28-July 19.
The Test and ODI series will be held at Harare Sports Club while the three T20 matches will be held at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
Sammons has given his extended squad a short break with the team expected regroup on June 1.
He has also given an update on Chevrons skipper, Richard Ngarava, who has been battling with back issues since the T20 World Cup.
“Richie (Ngarava) is obviously still recovering from his back injury and taking it day by day,” said Sammons.
“He is slowly starting to bowl again and build up in terms of his workload.
“However, it will be a process and we will see how that goes as we head closer to the Test match.”
Ngarava remains an integral part of the Chevrons.
“Like I said, it’s going to be very much a day-by-day process with him to see how much he can be pushed,” said Sammons
“Other than that, everybody’s really good and healthy, so I’m excited to have most of them back soon so we can resume our preparations.”
