Chronicle Editor
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
AFTER months of inactivity, the national women’s cricket team starts a 45-day training camp in Bulawayo, which runs from tomorrow until the end of March.
Last year promised a lot for the Mary-Anne Musonda-captained Lady Chevrons but it all ended in heartbreak and tears. Zimbabwe made good use of home advantage to win the International Cricket Council Women’s Qualifier Africa in Harare which saw them qualify for the Women’s T20 Qualifier in Scotland. The dreams of the girls were however, shattered following the country’s suspension by the ICC. The Lady Chevrons were barred from taking part in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier staged in Scotland. It even got worse with Musonda, some of her teammates and coach Adam Chifo also removed from being part of the ICC Women’s Global Development Squad.
Now the Lady Chevrons have to put all that pain and anguish behind as they prepare for the Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier to be staged in Sri Lanka in June. A squad of 22 players has been called up for camp, with an opportunity given to four who were outstanding in club matches played in Bulawayo and Harare.
“We have a squad of 22 including four new players who were outstanding in the last club matches with two from Harare and two from Bulawayo. We have a 45-day camp and this is the beginning of our World Cup qualifiers preparations to be held end of June in Sri Lanka,’’ Chifo said.
From Bulawayo, the team heads off to Thailand for a quadrangular series where they will face Ireland, Scotland and the host nation. Scotland are also heading to Zimbabwe in April.
“After the camp we are going to tour Thailand where we will play Ireland, Scotland and Thailand the host in a 50 over tournament. We are also going to host Scotland in April as part of our qualifiers preparations.”
Seeing that the team has been focusing a lot on Twenty20 cricket, Chifo indicated that the camp is aimed as making sure they are prepared for the much more challenging 50 overs.
“The aim of the camp is first to make sure that the ladies are physically conditioned for 50 over cricket which they haven’t played for two years since we have just been focusing on T20. We also aim to establish and refine our technical and tactical approach to 50 over cricket and make sure we have clear set disciplines on how we intend to go about our business,’’ said Chifo.
Queens Sports Club and Bulawayo Athletic Club are the training venues for the Lady Chevrons, with Chifo stating that the two facilities should prepare the women for the wickets in Sri Lanka. Practice matches have been arranged for the Lady Chevrons against Under-15 and Under-16 boys teams.
“We will be training at Queens and BAC which we hope will be able to give us similar conditions we are likely to face in Sri Lanka.”
The Lady Chevrons technical department is being beefed up with a fitness trainer, batting as well as bowling coaches being engaged. A selection panel is being put in place and they will have a chance to watch the women train and play practice matches in Bulawayo before they choose players to go on tour.
Zimbabwe women’s team camping squad
Mary-Anne Musonda, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Modester Mupachikwa, Josephine Nkomo, Nomvelo Sibanda, Loreen Phiri, Tasmeen Granger, Esther Mbofana, Chiedza Dhururu, Precious Marange, Nomatter Mutasa-Ziyambi, Christabel Chatonzwa, Ellen Tshuma, Anesu Mushangwe, Audrey Mazvishaya, Nyasha Gwanzura, Susan Kudzibatira, Pelagia Musonza, Kundai Senzere, Mitchel Mavunga, Anita Chisirimunhu, Lindokuhle Mabhena
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