Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
AFTER a dismal performance in their three-match One Day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka which they lost 2-0, Zimbabwe senior men’s national cricket team has received a timely boost in Sean Williams ahead of the start of the T20 series at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (RPICS) in Colombo today.
The veteran all-rounder flew into Sri Lanka yesterday to join the Chevrons in what will be a much needed addition to the team that has been struggling in the sub-continent nation.
The 37-year-old brings in a wealth of experience as one of the longest serving T20I players in the world. He will be an integral part of the Chevrons team who will be up against Sri Lanka in a historic T20 series. The upcoming series will be the first bilateral 20-over series between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka and both sides have a chance of making history.
Williams missed the ODI series due to an injury and has since recovered to go and bolster the team in Sri Lanka. Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) Director of Cricket Hamilton Masakadza said Williams will be a good addition to the team ahead of today’s encounter. He is hopeful that the all-rounder will feature in today’s opener. He has featured in Tuskers’ last match in the on-going Logan Cup.
“He recovered earlier than we thought and will be flying out tomorrow. A player of his calibre cannot be ignored and when he’s fit, he has to play, he brings in a lot of experience,” said Masakadza.
Williams is not the only player who made the trip to Sri Lanka ahead of today’s game with three other players joining the Chevrons camp.
Ainsley Ndlovu, Brian Bennett and Carl Mumba also flew to Sri Lanka, replacing Tapiwa Mufudza, Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Faraz Akram.
With the coming in of Williams to the team, the bolstered Chevrons team will have to be at their level best to topple the Lankans who enjoy a 100 percent winning record over them in the game’s shortest version. The two sides have only played against each other on three occasions in T20 cricket and Sri Lanka has emerged victorious in all. From the three matches, one was on Sri Lankan soil while the other two were played in neutral venues. This will be the two team’s first ever bilateral T20I series.
The Chevrons will be under the stewardship of Sikandar Raza, who will be under pressure to perform after a poor show in the ODIs.
The three T20Is will be played on January 14, 16 and 18 with all matches taking place at the RPICS. Today’s match is scheduled to start at 15:30PM (Zimbabwean time).
Sri Lanka T20 Squad: Wanindu Hasaranga (captain), Charith Asalanka (vice captain), Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusala Janath Perera, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Pathum Nissanka (subject to fitness), Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thisara, Akila Dananjaya.
Zimbabwe T20 Squad: Sikandar Raza (captain), Craig Ervine, Ainsley Ndlovu, Carl Mumba, Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Joylord Gumbie, Luke Jongwe, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Clive Madande, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Sean Williams. – @brandon_malvin
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