adminEddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE captain Elton Chigumbura says India are still a strong side despite their decision to omit some of the big names in the squad that was announced yesterday.
India are set to tour Zimbabwe next week and yesterday the selectors named a 15-man squad that did not include captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli.
The tourists are set for a short series that will include three One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20 matches, starting from July 10 at Harare Sports Club.
However, Chigumbura yesterday said Zimbabwe respect their opponents and they were looking to do a professional job.
“It’s not about the names. An Indian team remains an Indian team, it really doesn’t matter who is included or who has been left out.
“Of course there could be changes to their touring side but if you look at those guys, most of them have played international cricket before. So we need to respect them,” said Chigumbura.
India will arrive next Tuesday, with Ajinkya Rahane taking over the reins from Dhoni to lead the side as captain.
The 27-year old top-order batsman has 55 ODI and 11 T20I caps for India.
The most experienced member of the squad is the 34-year old off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who has 229 ODI and 25 T20I caps.
Zimbabwe’s squad of 20 will be trimmed after the selectors have seen how the players fare in the practice matches. The tour, which was initially in doubt after the Board of Control for Cricket in India raised some issues with the host broadcaster, was given the go-ahead after BCCI officials met with Zimbabwe Cricket officials on the sidelines of the ICC conference in Barbados last week.
The ODI matches will be played on the 10th, 12th and 14th of July and the T20I matches on the 17th and 19th.
India are coming from an unsuccessful ODI tour of Bangladesh during which they lost the first two matches before winning the third and final one.
Zimbabwe had an equally miserable outing on their recent tour of Pakistan and will be looking for positive performance at home.
“It’s good to know they (India) are coming. It is good for us to be playing cricket regularly but most importantly we need to do well and start getting some wins frequently especially when playing at home.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t have a good outing when we toured Pakistan the last time but we have put that behind. We are all looking ahead.
“We have had good preparations so far, everyone is fit.
“As professionals we look to apply ourselves well whether playing the strongest team or the weakest team in the world. Every game is important,” said Chigumbura.
India ODI squad
Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Stuart Binny, Kedar Jadhav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Manish Pandey, Axar Patel, Ambati Rayudu, Karn Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Sandeep Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Manoj Tiwary, Robin Uthappa and Murali Vijay.
Zimbabwe training squad
Sikandar Raza Butt, Regis Chakabva, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Luke Jongwe, Roy Kaia, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Neville Madziva, Hamilton Masakadza, Christopher Mpofu, Richmond Mutumbami, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Donald Tiripano, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller and Sean Williams.
Online Reporter