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Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe women’s cricket team started training yesterday, with 17 players, in preparation for the series against visiting Thailand set for Harare next week.
The Lady Chevrons, who were given the green-light to start training under the national Covid-19 protocols, will play three T20 Internationals, and four one day games, starting next Wednesday.
The tour is in preparation for the 2021 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier, set for Botswana next month, and the ICC Women’s World Cup Global Qualifier, to be held in Zimbabwe, in November.
“We began by conducting Covid-19 tests and then we started training today (yesterday),” coach Adam Chifo said.
“The players are looking fine, in terms of fitness.
“So, we started off with match practices and we hope to continue fine-tuning, until next week.”
Thailand, who will be part of the ICC Women’s World Cup Global Qualifier in November, are expected to arrive in Zimbabwe this Sunday.
Naruemol Chaiwai will lead the team, for the first time, after replacing Sornnarin Tippoch as captain, earlier this year.
Wicket-keeper Nannapat Khoncharoenkrai will be Chaiwai’s deputy, replacing Nattaya Boochatham.
There are two changes from the squad at the T20 World Cup in Australia, with medium-pacer Aphisara Suwanchonrathi and off-spinner Sunida Chaturongrattana replacing wicket-keeper Suwanan Khiaoto and left-arm spinner Soraya Lateh.
Shan Kader, Development Manager for the Cricket Association of Thailand said, they were looking forward to their first tour of this part of the world.
“Everyone in the squad is quite excited and looks really good in training so let’s see how it translates on this tour,” he told the association’s website.
The visiting side will then move on to Potchefstroom, where they will play five one-day matches and three T20s, against a South Africa Emerging XI.
Head Coach, Harshal Pathak, told Emerging Cricket “the biggest benefit of this tour for us is that we will be able to gain valuable experience of playing the 50 and 20-over formats against an international team like Zimbabwe, in their backyard, and a strong South Africa Emerging team in South African conditions where any visiting side will be tested.”
Captain Chaiwai believes that familiarity with the conditions in Zimbabwe will give the Thais an advantage in the November Qualifier.
“With Zimbabwe now hosting the Global Qualifiers, I think it is a great opportunity for us to gauge the conditions and learn to adapt and prepare ourselves for when they roll around,” she told Emerging Cricket.
Squad:
Naruemol Chaiwai (captain), Nannapat Khoncharoenkrai (vice-captain), Nattaya Boochatham, Ratanaporn Padunglerd, Chanida Sutthiruang, Natthakan Chantham, Suleeporn Laomi, Sornnarin Tippoch, Rosenanee Kanoh, Wongpaka Liengprasert, Phannita Maya, Onnicha Kampchomphu, Thipatcha Putthawong, Aphisara Suwanchonrathi, Sunida Chaturongrattana.
Fixtures:
Wednesday 18 August 2021 – 1st One-day vs Zimbabwe (Harare)
Friday 20 August 2021 – 2nd One-day vs Zimbabwe (Harare)
Sunday 22 August 2021 – 3rd One-day vs Zimbabwe (Harare)
Tuesday 24 August 2021 – 4th One-day vs Zimbabwe (Harare)
Friday 27 August 2021 – 1st T20I vs Zimbabwe (Harare)
Sunday 29 August 2021 – 2nd T20I vs Zimbabwe (Harare)
Monday 30 August 2021 – 3rd T20I vs Zimbabwe (Harare)
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