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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
LOGAN Cup champions Matabeleland Tuskers Cricket Franchise resumed training after a long lay off due to a salary impasse yesterday ahead of Monday’s domestic Twenty20 tournament to run from February 10-16 at Harare Sports Club. Wayne James took his charges through their paces at Whitestone Primary School which has an all-weather cricket facility as Queens Sports Club was waterlogged following heavy downpours the city has been receiving.
The ambitious Matabeleland Tuskers Cricket Franchise coach James is aiming at leading his club to a clean sweep of trophies in all formats of the game this season.
Matabeleland Tuskers have won three consecutive Logan Cup titles and last season lost to Mashonaland Eagles in their first ever final of the limited overs (Pro-50 One Day) since the start of franchise cricket in 2009.
The Bulawayo-based club has had below par performances in the Twenty20 version.
“We started training and most of the guys were in but some are still struggling to make it for practice due to transport problems. I am not blaming anyone but I would love to have everybody reporting for training but the guys are going through some challenges and I understand their problems. Now that Zimbabwe Cricket has promised to pay all of us, we are eagerly waiting for the day they clear the backlog and we will take it from there.
“Otherwise we started training this morning and we are grateful to the local school that gave us permission to use its facilities as the one at Queens Sports Club is in bad shape.
“We worked at the nets and I’m hopeful that we are going to be ready for the Twenty20 competition. Obviously our aim is to win this tournament and it requires us to shake off the rust that we have accumulated during this salary impasse,” James said.
Matabeleland Tuskers’ performance in the shorter version of the game has been affected by poor batting and James says he has challenged his players to work on their shortcomings.
He is hoping to land Keegan Meth who has since returned from overseas to lead his batting attack.
“We are waiting for Meth to respond to our offer and if he avails himself this means that we will have an improvement in our batting. Gavin Ewing will not be around for the Twenty20 finals because he is travelling overseas to be with his wife who is expected to deliver soon.
“Our hopes will be pinned on youngsters that are in the team and have been on the sidelines for a while. I told them that this is their chance to come in and grab the opportunity with both hands,” said James.
Matabeleland Tuskers’ bowling attack has spinner John Nyumbu, seamers Christopher “Christos” Mpofu and Tawanda Mupariwa who have both been shortlisted for the national team which will travel for the ICC World Cup in Bangladesh next month.
Promising opening batsman Brian Chari, seasoned Keith Dabengwa, ex-Manicaland Mountaineers’ Steven Chimamhiwa, Goodwill Mamhiyo, Thabo Mboyi and Bradley Staddon are some of last season’s fringe players who are expected to travel with Matabeleland Tuskers to Harare.
Online Reporter