adminMehluli Sibanda Senior Sports Reporter
FAST bowler Christopher Mpofu has been omitted by the national selectors from the Zimbabwe national cricket team that meets India later this month, a move which puts his international cricket career in doubt. Mpofu was not named in the 16-man squad for the India tour released by Zimbabwe Cricket on Saturday.
The 27-year-old Matabeleland Tuskers pace bowler who made his international debut for Zimbabwe at the end of 2004 last played an international match in March this year when Zimbabwe toured West Indies. He picked up a hip injury on that tour to the Caribbean which saw him miss the two Test matches Zimbabwe played against the Calypso Kings.
Mpofu was further sidelined when Bangladesh visited Zimbabwe in May as he was yet to regain full fitness. The lanky fast bowler returned to training with the national when the team went into camp at the end of May in preparation for the India tour.
Having returned to full fitness, it was expected that Mpofu would make a return to the national team. It however seems the tall bowler is not in new coach Andrew Waller’s plans and this now casts serious questions over his international cricket career.
Dropped from the team which did duty against Bangladesh are wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva and fast bowlers Shingirai Masakadza and Tinashe Panyangara. Captain Brendan Taylor is the only wicketkeeper named in the 16-man squad.
With Mpofu, Panyangara and Masakadza out of the team, Zimbabwe will have to rely on Kyle Jarvis, Brian Vitori, Tendai Chatara and Elton Chigumbura when they clash with India.
In the spin department, former captain, off spinner Prosper Utseya will fight it off for selection into the starting line-up with the leg spinning trio of Natsai Mushangwe, Graeme Cremer and Tinotenda Mutombodzi.
The Indians who recently added the International Cricket Council Champions Trophy to their trophy cabinet which already has the ICC Cricket World Cup are due in Zimbabwe for five One-Day International in Harare and Bulawayo at the end of this month. The first three ODIs are at Harare Sports Club on 24 July, 26 July and 28 July with the Bulawayo leg of the tour set for 31 July and 3 August.
Zimbabwe squad for India tour
Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor(captain/wicketkeeper), Tendai Chatara, Michael Chinouya, Elton Chigumbura, Graeme Cremer, Kyle Jarvis, Timycen Maruma, Hamilton Masakadza, Natsai Mushangwe, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Vusumuzi Sibanda, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams.
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