adminJeffrey Murimbechi Sports Correspondent
MASHONALAND Eagles chief executive Vimbai Mapukute revealed that they will enjoy the experienced services of former Zimbabwe international cricket opening batsman Mark Vermeulen as part of the Harare-based side’s three teams.
The start of Zimbabwe’s 2013/14 domestic cricket is still a mystery even to the franchise teams set to take part in it, but this has not stopped teams from picking out squads and contracting players in preparation for the elusive season.
“We have not yet finalised our squad but I can confirm that Mark Vermeulen will be part of the squad later on in the season. We are still negotiating the finer terms of his engagement but for now it looks like he will feature mainly in the Logan Cup,” Mapukute said.
There is a serious concern over Vermeulen’s disciplinary issues as he has a record for gross deviance from cricket and national laws.
In 2006, he was banned from all cricket played under the auspices of the England and Wales Cricket Board after a violent altercation with spectators at a match between Ashton and his club, Werneth, in the Central Lancashire League.
The original ban imposed was 10 years, but on appeal it was reduced to three years, two of which were suspended.
“In the same year he was brought to book by the law on an arson charge as he attempted to burn the then CFX Cricket Academy in Harare but was cleared on the grounds of mental illness coming from a head injury he had sustained.
Joining the Eagles will make the 34-year-old batsman the only player in Zimbabwean history to have played for all five franchises as he has already played for all the other four already.
Apart from his bad boy issues, Vermeulen is a prized signing for the Eagles who slumped to a disappointing finish in last year’s Logan Cup, anchoring the bottom of the table.
He has played 91 first-class matches with a batting average of 36.8 run featuring 14 centuries and 24 fifties.
With the absence of Stuart Matsikenyeri, Vermeulen will add depth to frail batting and inexperience in the squad.
In the last months members of the Eagles had been negotiating the final terms of their contracts with the franchise but things started to take shape yesterday when a tentative squad of 21 players was exclusively revealed to The Herald from a team official.
The squad will be finalised tomorrow as players will begin signing their contracts and more players will be added to the squad.
The franchise will have the services of two Zimbabwe Cricket centrally contracted players Elton Chigumbura and Prosper Utseya along with seven other players with national caps.
“They spoke to Sikanda Razza and Nathan Waller to return to the squad and both will be back, but will only be in the country in December so we are only going to have them then.
“It is still frustrating for many people not knowing when the season will start because we cannot make any concrete plans.
“Even if the season starts in the middle of the month, we know it will be an expense for franchises because we will be affected by rain and might not have as much game time as we would want, and still monies will be due to everyone when there are no matches being played,” said the same official.
Eagles will have the highest number of rookies in their history with eight players coming in from their “B” squad which will no longer be in existence and a few players coming in from the national Under-19 squad.
Samuel “Rambo” Mwakayeni will be part of the main squad after falling out of selectors’ favour due to form and is set to be a valuable batting all-rounder.
He will be joined by former Mountaineer Bernard Mlambo and former MidWest Rhinos’ Rememberence Nyathi.
The Mashonaland Eagles squad
Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Forster Mutizwa, Sikander Razaa, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Taurai Muzarabani, Nayhan Waller, Innocent Chinyoka, Cephas Zhuwao, Bernard Mlambo, Remembrance Nyathi, Samuel Mwakayeni, Simbbarashe Gupo, Mark Vermulen, Prosper Utseya, Elton Chigumbura, Joylord Gumbi, Tafadzwa Muzarawetu, Brighton Mugochi, Sean Handirisi, Tinotenda mufusiwe, Nigel Maparura, Manuel Sharara, Clive Mwaita.
Online Reporter