adminSpeaking on the sidelines of the team’s training session at Queens Sports Club yesterday, Mangongo said they had assembled a strong side and they were hoping to continue with their purple patch that saw them beat South Africa in a tri-series which had Bangladesh.
Zimbabwe is in Group C with South Africa and Sri Lanka.
“We have entered the home stretch in as far as our preparations are concerned and I am happy to say that the players’ confidence levels are high and they can’t wait to be in Sri Lanka. Our target is to make it into the last eight and to do that we just have to win at least one game.
“The boys are up to it and that big brother mentality is gone as evidenced by the way we played against South Africa a few months ago,” he said.
Mangongo, who has seen most of the players come through from the junior ranks, spoke highly about the team’s top order batting line-up which has Hamilton Masakadza, Vusi Sibanda and Brendan Taylor.
“I am confident that the guys will give us cracks as they have been hitting boundaries in our training games. Vusi, Hamilton and Taylor have been
averaging above 15 runs which is good because they understand that Twenty20 is all about hitting the balls instead of building innings,” Mangongo said.
He also commended the team’s bowling attack which has seamers Christopher Mpofu and Kyle Jarvis.
Veteran Raymond Price leads spin bowlers Prosper Utseya and Graeme Cremer.
Mangongo said Foster Mutizwa and Midwest Rhinos seamer Richard Muzhange have recovered from the slight knock they suffered and trained with the team on Monday and yesterday.
On training at Queens Sports Club, Mangongo said they were expecting similar wickets in Sri Lanka.
In Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe will play two practice matches, the first against Ireland on 13 September before they play against Bangladesh two days later.
Zimbabwe squad for World Twenty20: Brendan Taylor (captain), Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Craig Ervine, Graeme Cremer, Raymond Price, Kyle Jarvis, Christopher Mpofu, Richard Muzhange, Brian Vittori, Prosper Utseya, Forster Mutizwa.
Non-travelling reserves: Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Shingirai Masakadza, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Richmond Mutumbami
Online Reporter