dyton mupawaenda
Lawrence Moyo-Head Zimpapers Sports
SELECTORS have wielded the axe on players blamed for Zimbabwe’s embarrassing failure to qualify for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup cricket tournament while naming a 15-man squad for a limited-overs home series against Ireland.
The series, which gets underway under floodlights tomorrow, includes three T20Is and three ODIs with all matches at Harare Sports Club.
Fall guys Tendai Chatara, Wellington Masakadza, Innocent Kaia and Nick Welch were yesterday excluded from the T20I side after a disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign in Namibia last week.
They were replaced by the uncapped duo of middle-order batsman Brian Bennett and pace bowler Trevor Gwandu together with leg spinner Brandon Mavuta and batter Tony Munyonga in the immediate reaction to the Windhoek humiliation. Zimbabwe finished third behind unbeaten Namibia and Uganda (one defeat) at the qualifiers where only the top two made it to next year’s finals in the United States and the West Indies.
Chatara was the most criticised after a forgettable 18th over in the five-wicket loss, with five balls remaining, to Uganda as he conceded 20 runs when the Chevrons bowlers had to restrict the Ugandans to under eight runs an over to defend a low score.
Blessing Muzarabani had bowled the 17th over and conceded just two runs to put the Ugandans under pressure. Chatara, who played only two matches, and Masakadza had the worst statistics for the bowlers in Namibia as they averaged 57 runs per wicket from two matches and 71 runs per wicket from three matches respectively. Kaia (62 runs) and Welch (39 runs) played three matches out of six in T20I World Cup qualifiers and did not justify inclusion for the Ireland series. Captain Sikandar Raza, who hit 24 sixes and 13 fours in Namibia, had to promote himself to opener but it was a little too late as Uganda went on to win all their matches. Raza (273 runs in five innings) and fellow all-rounder Sean Williams (158 runs in six innings) were the top two scorers for the Chevrons in Namibia and will be key for the series against Ireland. Former captain Craig Ervine has recovered from a groin muscle strain that kept him out of the Chevrons’ last five matches of the World Cup qualifiers has been passed fit to resume action.
Zimbabwe T20I squad:
Raza Sikandar (captain), Bennett Brian, Burl Ryan, Ervine Craig, Gwandu Trevor, Jongwe Luke, Madande Clive, Madhevere Wessly, Marumani Tadiwanashe, Mavuta Brandon, Mumba Carl, Munyonga Tony, Muzarabani Blessing, Ngarava Richard, Williams Sean
Fixtures (all matches Harare Sports Club):
Tomorrow: 6pm
Saturday: 1pm
Sunday: 1pm
13 Dec: 1st ODI (9.15am)
15 Dec: 2nd ODI (9.15am)
17 Dec: 3rd ODI (9.15am)
Online Reporter