adminThe squads for the One-Day Internationals and the one-off Test will be named after the T20 games.
Zimbabwe hosts New Zealand – who are expected to land this afternoon — in a series of matches that start with two T20 matches with the first on Saturday and the second on Monday and this will be followed by three ODIs and a one-off Test.
Meth suffered a mouth injury against Bangladesh in Bulawayo two months ago forcing him to miss the Pakistan tour where Zimbabwe lost on all fronts.
Meth has been making steady progress and showing good form on the domestic scene with Matabeleland Tuskers, leaving Zimbabwe to make minimal changes to the sides that took on Bangladesh and Pakistan.
However, Southern Rocks’ Brian Vitori, who took the world by storm on his debut against Bangladesh with record breaking bowling figures, will not be part of the squad.
His last game was the third ODI against Pakistan and since then he has not been able to put full effort following a shin injury during the tour of Pakistan.
Vitori has also not been able to take part in the domestic league and this could mean that Chris Mpofu – also of Tuskers – will have to lead the seam attack with the Kyle Jarvis
Meth and former captain Elton Chigumbura provide medium-paced support.
Indeed, depending on what bowling combination is opted for, Chigumbura and Meth could both be competing for one all-rounder’s slot in the line-up, particularly as both Ray Price and Prosper Utseya are in the squad and likely to play.
There is also a third slow-bowling option in the group in the form of 20 year-old Mountaineers leg-spinner Natsai Mushangwe who has risen through the ranks during Graeme Cremer’s injury lay-off, and was part of the Zimbabwe XI team that took on A sides from Australia and South Africa during the winter.
With Brendan Taylor, Hamilton Masakadza, Vusi Sibanda and Tatenda Taibu virtual certainties in the starting XI, there will be some stiff competition for batting places between Charles Coventry, Chamu Chibhabha, Forster Mutizwa and Malcolm Waller.
Waller and Mutizwa have both started the domestic season in purring form, Waller having slammed 174 during his 341-run stand with Gary Ballance in the innings victory over Southern Rocks and followed that up with an unbeaten 59-ball 86 in the tied one-day match against the same opposition.
Mutizwa has also found the Rocks attack to his liking, his 73 guiding Mashonaland Eagles to a six-wicket win over them at Masvingo Sports Club and his unbeaten 164 securing a hefty fourth-innings run chase in the Logan Cup.
Coventry, on the other hand, has not played any domestic cricket since Pakistan’s visit, while Chibhabha has managed a pair of first-class half-centuries in two Rocks defeats.
Both men have and international experience which may swing selection in their favour.
After the two T20s in Harare, Zimbabwe will play three ODIs against New Zealand, the third of that will be played at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, which is also the venue for the Test match which begins on the first of November.
Zimbabwe T20 squad
Brendan Taylor (Captain), Charles Coventry, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Kyle Jarvis, Hamilton Masakadza, Keegan Meth, Natsai M’shangwe, Christopher Mpofu, Forster Mutizwa, Raymond Price, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu, Prosper Utseya, Malcolm Waller
Online Reporter