adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
MATABELELAND Tuskers Cricket Franchise coach Wayne James believes his inexperienced squad participating in the Twenty20 tournament that starts today and ends on Saturday at Harare Sports Club is capable of causing upsets.The Bulawayo-based franchise left Bulawayo for Harare yesterday and starts their campaign against Masvingo’s Southern Rocks this afternoon.
Southern Rocks beat Matabeleland Tuskers in the Pro50 One Day game in Masvingo in December and James is aware of the damage his opponents can cause.
Some of the players that Matabeleland Tuskers should be wary of are Tinashe Panyangara, Trevor Garwe, off spinner Roy Kaia and wicketkeeper Richard Mutumbami.
James said his players will have to shrug off rust that they have accumulated due to the long salary standstill they were having.
The Matabeleland Tuskers coach is guiding the club for the first time in this format of the game since taking over from Heath Streak whose contract ran out at the end of last season.
“Like I said before, what we have here is basically a young and inexperienced squad. This is the time for most of the boys to show that they deserve to be at Tuskers.
“We are also building a platform for the future as we anticipate that most of these players will be around for years to come. Obviously the long lay off can affect the guys but I believe we trained well and it’s only a matter of time before the guys get their match fitness back.
Southern Rocks are a good side and we respect them but I expect my boys to put in a strong fight and who knows, we might even go as far as the semi-finals or even the final. We have to try and win these shorter versions as well and it starts with this Twenty20 competition,” said James.
Skipper Sean Williams, returning Keegan Meth, all-rounder Keith Dabengwa, pace bowler Christopher Mpofu and John Nyumbu are the seasoned players expected to lead Matabeleland Tuskers’ campaign.
James included in his team Milton High School pupil Bruce Tshuma and rookies Nkosana Mpofu and Kelvin Kandala. Fringe players like Kandala, Thabo Mboyi, Goodwill Mamhiyo, Tony Mupariwa and Bonaparte Mujuru are also in the team alongside promising opening batsman Brian Chari.
Matabeleland Tuskers squad
Bonaparte Mujuru, Brian Chari, Sean Williams (captain), Keith Dabengwa, Goodwill Mamhiyo, Tawanda Mupariwa, Tony Mupariwa, Thabo Mboyi, Christopher Mpofu, John Nyumbu, Nkosana Mpofu, Kelvin Kandala, Bruce Sibanda, Keegan Meth
Twenty20 fixtures
Today: Mashonaland Eagles v MidWest Rhinos, Southern Rocks v Matabeleland Tuskers
Tomorrow: Manicaland Mountaineers v Mashonaland Eagles, MidWest Rhinos v Southern Rocks
Wednesday: Mashonaland eagles v Southern Rocks, Matabeleland Tuskers v Manicaland Mountaineers
Thursday: MidWest Rhinos v Matabeleland Tuskers, Southern Rocks v Manicaland Mountaineers
Friday: Matabeleland Tuskers v Mashonaland eagles, Manicaland Mountaineers v MidWest Rhinos
*NB: All matches at Harare Sports Club
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