Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
FORMER captain Graeme Cremer was a notable omission when Zimbabwe played Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series that concluded in Harare at the weekend.
Cremer, who is bidding to resume his international career with Zimbabwe after a seven-year hiatus, was recently added to the squad after announcing that he was returning from retirement.
The 39-year-old leg spinner was selected into the Chevrons squad on the back of positive performances in domestic cricket where he has been starring for Takashinga Patriots 1.
But Zimbabwe coach Justin Sammons maintained the veteran spinner needed to sweat for a place in the team, especially as Zimbabwe are intensifying preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup set for India and Sri Lanka early next year.
Cremer boasts a respectable T20I record, having played 29 matches and bagged 35 wickets, with best figures of 3/11.
But he had to watch from the sidelines as the Chevrons suffered a series whitewash at the hands of Afghanistan last week, with the selectors opting for Wellington Masakadza.
Asked why he would not try out Cremer during the Afghanistan series as Zimbabwean bowlers blew hot and cold, Sammons was diplomatic.
“I don’t think I can really answer that question now. The reality is, Wellington has been brilliant for us when he’s played,” Sammons said.
“If you look back to the final (of the T20 World Cup Qualifier) against Namibia, I think he was four overs and 1/22. And again, he went four overs 1/20 (against Afghanistan).
“So, for Cremer to now jump ahead of him, it’s highly unlikely that will happen. But certainly, there will be an opportunity for him in the near future where he will get some game time. But at the moment it’s very much combination dependent.”
Cremer was the only change to the squad that featured in the World Cup qualifier, coming in for Trevor Gwandu.
He joined the team at a time when the Chevrons had already started assembling combinations ahead of the World Cup.
This made his selection into the matchday squad against Afghanistan a bit difficult, as the Chevrons already had options for spin in Masakadza, Ryan Burl and skipper Sikandar Raza.
“You saw the first game we went with four seamers. And obviously, (Sikandar) Raza is a specialist spinner. It was almost a forced change in a way (for the last two games), where we changed the combination, with Blessing Muzarabani hurting his back.
“But we’ve got that ability which is nice within the bowling unit now. Where it’s not that a player has been dropped.
“If we wanted to play Wellington today, for whoever it may have been, it’s not like we’re dropping that player. It’s just a shifting combination according to conditions or opposition that we’re facing and what we feel is most effective against them.
“So, it’s a nice position to be in where you can actually make those changes according to what you’re going to encounter,” Sammons said.
Zimbabwe will have another opportunity to fine-tune their squad later this month when they feature in a triangular series to be hosted by Pakistan. Sri Lanka are the other participants.
The series will run from November 17 to 29 November and will be crucial in the teams’ preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 to be held in India and Sri Lanka between February and March.
“It’s about playing the best. It’s about seeing how they go about their business. It’s about adjusting how we go about ours when we’re playing them.
“Unless you’re playing them, you can’t do that. So, it’s a great opportunity for us to obviously up our game and understand the level that needs to be achieved when we’re playing this type of opposition,” Sammons said.
He said the experience in the triangular series will prepare his side for the sub-continent conditions.
“I think it’s brilliant to go to Pakistan.
“We’re going to be in different conditions. So that’s going to be a great experience for a lot of the guys.
“Hopefully we can get something also prior to the World Cup,” said Sammons.
