adminyesterday with a number of local coaches having expressed their interest in taking over the seat.
Butcher has been in charge of the team since 2010 and has not re-applied for the job as he felt he had enough time with the team during his three-year tenure.
Assistant coach Steve Mangongo and batting coach Grant Flower are among the candidates who have been interviewed for the position.
Former Zimbabwe coaching manager Andrew Waller has also shown interest in the job.
Butcher will leave office in April after the team’s tour of the West Indies. Zimbabwe are scheduled to start camp next week to prepare for the tour that runs from February 20 — March 20.
Meanwhile, winless Mashonaland Eagles slumped to yet another defeat yesterday when they fell to Rhinos at Kwekwe Sports Club and extend their losing streak to five matches in the Logan Cup competition this season.
Rhinos put up a disciplined show to win the match by nine wickets. National team spin bowler Graeme Cremer took a five-wicket haul to help Rhinos complete back-to-back dominance over the Harare side in the four-day game.
Eagles who had resumed their fight on 84/4 yesterday morning could not build a big score as they crashed all out at 170, setting up Rhinos an easy chase of 58 runs to win.
Cremer who had taken two wickets in the first innings, continued to trouble the Eagles batsmen with his spin as he claimed 5-64 in the second innings.
The Rhinos bowlers did most of the damage with Richard Muzhange also weighing in with 3-26 while Edward Rainsford and Mike Chinouya had a wicket each.
Rhinos had taken the first innings lead when they dismissed their opponents for 166 before half centuries from Vusi Sibanda (56), Mark Vermeulen (67) and Malcom Waller (73) took them to a decent total of 279 runs, in response.
Rhinos’ coach Grant Flower praised his charges for their teamwork and disciplined all-round performances.
“That was a good win. We had a decent work out and I think they didn’t play spin quite well. We probably did it better than them.
“Our batsmen Vusi Sibanda and Mark Vermeulen also played well and it was encouraging to see such a good all-round performance,” said Flower.
His opposite number Steve Mangongo felt his side needed to work hard on their batting techniques in the first class competitions as they have struggled to settle this year.
“It’s still work in progress. We may have got shot down but we are not giving up. We would need to work on our technical ability to combat spin because we were really exposed when Graeme Cremer got in there with the ball,” said Mangongo.
“The problem is that we are not spending enough time on the crease. We have guys making good starts but they are not converting into big scores.
“Maybe we are not being patient enough and it doesn’t pay to get in there and hit the ball and then depart early.
“We need people who can stay longer at the middle. If a team cannot do that then you shouldn’t expect to win a Test match.”
Online Reporter