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ALL rounder Elton Chigumbura has challenged his troops to show that each one of them really deserves a place in the Zimbabwe team for the 2015 International Cricket Council World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The World Cup bursts into life in less than 60 days from now and yesterday newly appointed Zimbabwe coach Dave Whatmore named a 15-member squad, led by Chigumbura, that he has picked for the matches.
The Chevrons will play in the same pool with South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Ireland, India and West Indies.
Zimbabwe Cricket have also selected five non-travelling reserves for the competition with ODI captain Chigumbura challenging each player to justify their inclusion through outstanding performances.
The national team cricket has not been producing positive results and their previous tour to Bangladesh ended in a whitewash as the Chevrons lost all the three Tests and Five ODIs in October and November last year.
Chigumbura was part of the newly re-constituted selection panel that is also made up of Givemore Makoni, assistant coach Douglas Hondo and Babu Meman.
“I am happy with the composition of this national team but it’s unfortunate that some of the guys who have played more matches before like Vusi Sibanda and Brain Vitori are missing although they have done well in the past.
“But the guys who are in deserve to be in the team looking at recent form. So I am looking forward to the team that I have now as we go forward.
“We have guys who can play well in the conditions we are going to face. I think the conditions we are going to face are also similar to here but the difference comes in the pace of the wicket and we need to adjust before we go to the World Cup,” said Chigumbura.
Cricket pitches Down Under have traditionally been known to be good for fast bowlers because of the amount of bounce that can be generated on these surfaces and could favour batsmen who play the pull, hook and cuts efforts.
In the 15-man squad, veteran batsman Hamilton Masakadza got a place for what could be his first World Cup appearance despite his long service to the game.
Masakadza burst into the national team as a raw 17-year and scored a century in his maiden Test in 2001 but the batsman has failed to play at the ICC World Cups because either he was off form or injured when the previous teams were named.
Spin bowler Prosper Utseya has also won a place in the squad but he will be restricted from his main duties after having faced a ban from the ICC for illegal bowling action. Utseya can only bowl medium pace for now.
Utseya has since undergone remedial action in South Africa and has been cleared to play while Mashonaland Eagles batsman Chamu Chibhabha could have impressed the selectors by hammering 155 in the ODI against visiting Canada at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday.
Chigumbura prays that Chibhabha retains his present fine form at the World Cup.
“I think he is in good form and I hope that he will be consistent like what he did yesterday (Tuesday). I feel that if he plays that role well, we could have positive results for the whole team,” said Chigumbura.
The team captain is also hoping that Australian-based Solomon Mire will be one team’s trumps cards since he is familiar with the wickets as he plays for Melbourne Renegades.
“It’s an advantage to have a guy who is playing in Australia in our team for the World Cup. He is playing in those conditions and looking at his last tour, he played well in Bangladesh in what were different conditions from what he is used to.
“He brought the team to better shape through his performance so it’s a big positive to have someone like him who is an all rounder and can balance the ball and the batting,” he said.
Convener of selectors, Makoni, said they have managed to pick the best squad based on present and previous form. “I think this is the best squad we have managed to come up with for this competition and it has got good balance in terms of bowlers, batters, spinners and all-rounders.
“This is the team to do the job for us and the beauty about this World Cup is that we are not playing three games but six games and this is good enough for any side to pick form and progress during the competition,” he said.
National team coach Whatmore, who is an Australian, has set his target on progressing beyond the first round matches.
Squad
Elton Chigumbura (captain), Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Solomon Mire, Tawanda Mupariwa, Tinashe Panyangara, Brendan Taylor, Prosper Utseya, Sean Williams
Non-travelling reserves: John Nyumbu, Vusi Sibanda, Brian Vitori, Malcom Waller, Cephas Zhuwao -Sportszone
Online Reporter
Londile Moyo