Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE coach Justin Sammons has backed his skipper Sikandar Raza to do well and refuses to place too much emphasis on his dip in form on the international cricket scene this year.
Raza struggled with both bat and ball during the Bangladesh and India visits.
He scored just 45 runs and took one wicket during the One Day Internationals against Bangladesh, while also chipping in with 51 runs and three wickets in the T20 leg. Zimbabwe won the ODI format 2-1 but lost the three-match T20 series by a similar scoreline.
He then went on to struggle against India, making only four runs and chipping in the solitary wicket as the reigning T20 champions cruised to a whitewash 3-0 victory. But Sammons has refused to panic and was more than happy just to have his captain’s calming presence when Zimbabwe left for Namibia yesterday. “Obviously, it’s good to have Raza with us, as always,” said Sammons.
“He has never missed a T20 series or a white-ball series. That is huge for us. He balances the team, which is extremely important, and we know he’s a match winner in every aspect.
“Yes, he may have had a tough series against India and Bangladesh, but that’s the nature of the game.
“You are not always going to be on song. One day things go your way and the next they don’t.”
He added: “It is just about making sure he stays true to his preparation and his plans, which he’s doing.
“We know match-winning performances are just around the corner,” he said.
Raza will be expected to carry a chunk of the workload after Zimbabwe Cricket named their 15-man squad for the Namibia Tri-series.
The Zimbabwe T20 skipper will continue his leadership duties but goes into battle without one of his most trusted bowlers, Richard Ngarava.
Fast bowlers Ngarava and Tanaka Chivanga have been ruled out of the series due to injury.
Ngarava is set to continue his recovery from a lower-back injury, while Chivanga has undergone surgery after sustaining an Achilles tendon injury during practice. There was good news from the Chevrons camp as Graeme Cremer returns after recovering from the left-arm injury that ruled him out of the home series against Bangladesh and India.
Kundai Matigimu has also been included for the tournament, slated for August 28–September 6.
“Obviously, the big blow is not having Richard with us,” said Sammons. “Following that, Chivanga injuring his Achilles was another hit as he stepped in to replace Richard.
“It’s always good to have Cremer with us as he brings a lot of experience and calmness to the group, which is crucial. Cremer also gives us the skill set which is needed in Namibia in terms of our spin department,” he said. Zimbabwe open the series with a match against South Africa on Saturday, after which they will meet the hosts two days later. The three nations will play each other twice, with the top two sides advancing to the final on September 6.
ZIMBABWE SQUAD
Sikandar Raza (Captain), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Ben Curran, Brad Evans, Innocent Kaia, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Kundai Matigimu, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Newman Nyamhuri, Tafadzwa Tsiga.
