Zim Cricket intensify preps

practice matches currently underway at Harare Sports Club.
The home team has been in camp for the past month focusing on fitness building and perfecting the basic Twenty20 drills.
But the squad has been split into two teams that are engaging in practice matches at the Harare Sports Club where the selectors are monitoring the performances.
The opposing teams are being captained by Vusi Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza, in the absence of Brendan Taylor, who picked up an ankle injury last week.
Convenor of selectors Givemore Makoni yesterday said the matches will be used to come up with the final squad for the series.
“The 25 players in camp will play practice games between themselves and how they perform will have a bearing on the final selection.
“We want to give everyone a chance to prove his worth. Everyone is really pushing for his place.
“Otherwise the preparations are in good order. The good news is that there are no big injuries to talk about although niggles can be found here and there, which is common in any camp.
“For example we have captain Brendan Taylor who has a minor injury but he should be fit well before the series begin,” said Makoni.
Assistant team coach, Stephen Mangongo, said the prospects to come up with a strong team look good because of the competition for places.
Top order batsman Stuart Matsikenyeri was the highest scorer yesterday with 59 runs to his credit while rookie Kevin Kasuza also stood with his ground with 23 off 30 balls.
Masakadza has scored 44 and 32 in the two matches while Sibanda yielded 35 runs from his bat in one of the matches.
“It’s good to see our senior players getting scores but we want to see players staying on the crease for longer periods.
“There’s also great competition on the bowling front where Kyle Jarvis, Keegan Meth and Shingi Masakadza are doing good.
“Meth took four wickets from his four overs on Friday and it’s also encouraging to have Chris Mpofu back from injury.
“Young Tendai Chatara has also shown great promise with genuine pace although he is a bit wayward. We just have to keep improving,” said Mangongo.
Bangladesh and South Africa have already named their travelling squads.
Bangladesh recalled former captain Mohammad Ashraful, batsman Zunaed Siddique in a squad that includes uncapped Ziaur Rahman and Abul Hasan.
The tour will be the first assignment for Bangladesh’s new coach Richard Pybus.
Johan Botha will lead the South Africans who rested four senior players AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. But South Africa remain a strong force with such players as Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Marchant de Lange, Colin Ingram, Albie Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Faf du Plessis who received a debut T20 call following a standout performance in the IPL recently.
“Both teams are strong. South Africa have rested some of their senior players and I think the guys coming here are more dangerous because they have a point to prove.
“We need to be adequately prepared for them. Technically we have 10 days remaining and we should use them fruitfully,” said Mangongo.
The teams are assured of four Twenty20 games each and this comes as a big relief for the hosts who have not been active since the tour of New Zealand in February.
The teams are preparing for the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in Sri Lanka in September. Zimbabwe Cricket will also pick a 25member squad tomorrow for the national A side that will engage South Africa and Sri Lanka.