adminEddie Chikamhi Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE cricket convener of selectors, Kenyon Ziehl, says opening batsman Vusi Sibanda needs to stake up more runs after the MidWest Rhinos man missed the squad of 16 announced yesterday to face Pakistan in the One Day International and Twenty20 series. The selectors, however, recalled wicket-keeper Richmond Mutumbami, Malcom Waller and Taurai Muzarabani in a largely unchanged squad led by skipper Elton Chigumbura.
Sibanda, who did not play a part in Zimbabwe’s most recent international assignment against New Zealand, had hoped to impress the selectors during last week’s practice matches where he scored a half century.
But the selectors felt the 31-year old right-hander needed more time to work with the bat and could feature prominently in the Zimbabwe A side during the upcoming tours by Ireland and Bangladesh. Sibanda has struggled this year, scoring 86 runs in his last five ODIs at an average of 17.2.
“No doubt he’s talented but he needs to get a few more runs under his belt at this moment. We’ve a number of A games coming up and, hopefully, that’ll give him more game time,” said Ziehl.
Zimbabwe will play two T20 matches against Pakistan starting on September 27 with the ODIs coming up early in October. All matches will be at Harare Sports Club. Ziehl said they were impressed by the squad dominated by usual faces like Sikandar Raza, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Hamilton Masakadza, Prosper Utseya, Tinashe Panyangara and Sean Williams
Mutumbami, 26, was selected as wicketkeeper/batsman ahead of Regis Chakabva who kept wicket during the New Zealand tour of Zimbabwe in August.
“It was a tough decision to make but we thought Richie had a better strike this moment, which was an advantage to him. He has been hitting the ball well and had a good series during the Africa T20 in South Africa recently. However, the essence is to try them both. Regis played against New Zealand and now Richie is coming in,” said Ziehl.
There were also places for Chris Mpofu, Neville Madziva, John Nyumbu and 20-year old Luke Jongwe. Seamer Muzarabani, 28, has played in three Twenty20 Internationals for Zimbabwe, but is yet to make his ODI debut.
“The dynamic of the squad is made up of a calm and aggressive combination for the Pakistan series. It’s a squad based on building a performance-related culture and giving a platform to the younger future players to prove their ability. I think we’ve a good balance but now we need to learn to win matches. We’ve come close on many occasions and it’s time we cultivate that culture of winning games,” said Ziehl.
Pakistan are scheduled to arrive in Zimbabwe next Thursday for the tour that begins three days later with the first T20I and the second on the 29th. The T20I matches start at 1300 hours. Zimbabwe and Pakistan will then play three ODI matches on October 1, 3 and 5.
Zim squad: Elton Chigumbura (Captain), Sikandar Raza Butt, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Luke Jongwe, Neville Madziva, Hamilton Masakadza, Christopher Mpofu, Richmond Mutumbami (W/keeper), Taurai Muzarabani, John Nyumbu, Tinashe Panyangara, Prosper Utseya, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter