adminRicky Zililo Sports Reporter
THE national cricket team was due to leave the country last night for a long tour of Bangladesh with John “Master of Spin” Nyumbu optimistic of a successful trip to the sub-continent.
The trip to Asia, where Zimbabwe are scheduled to play three Test matches and five One Day Internationals (ODIs) is the country’s longest in more than a decade as they will return in December.
In a telephone interview from the Harare International Airport yesterday, Nyumbu who is on his maiden tour, was excited about the trip.
“Obviously I’m happy to have been included in the squad to Bangladesh and I’m really looking forward to the tour. For me, a successful tour of Bangladesh will be winning Test matches, not that ODIs are not important,” he said.
It took 10 years for Nyumbu, 29, to break into the senior national team having been in and out of the Zimbabwe A squad. He made his debut in a Test match against South Africa in August, picking five wickets for 157 runs, becoming the second Zimbabwean after seamer Andy Blignaut to take five wickets on Test debut.
Nyumbu went on to play all Zimbabwe’s three ODIs against the Proteas and took part in the Triangular Series against Australia and Zimbabwe.
In his short international career, he has 10 wickets to his name — five in Tests and 10 in ODIs.
With sub-continent weather spin-friendly, Nyumbu will be a vital cog for Zimbabwe’s bowling line-up following seasoned Prosper Utseya’s ban for illegal bowling.
“I think what’s important is for me to take each game as it comes. Sadly Prosper (Utseya) isn’t here but it’s the complete bowling unit that’ll win us matches. Whatever the bowling combination that’ll be chosen will do the job,” he said.
Tinashe Panyangarara returns into the national team having been expelled from the Triangular Series camp because of indiscipline.
Young spinner Wellington Masakadza, all-rounders Tafadzwa Kamungozi and Natsai M’shangwe will join Nyumbu and Panyangarara in leading Zimbabwe’s bowling attack.
From the 16-member squad that left last night, top order batsman Brian Chari, Shingirai Masakadza and his young brother Wellington will return to Zimbabwe after the Tests and will be replaced for the ODIs by three players out of Neville Madziva, Timycen Maruma, Solomon Mire, Peter Moor, Tawanda Mupariwa and Brian Vitori.
They start with a three-day game on Monday with the first Test match starting from October 25-29 in Dhaka before moving to Khulna for the second Test from November 3-7 with the last set to be held in Chittagong from November 12-16 after which the returning players will fly back home.
The first ODI will be in Chittagong on November 21 which will also be home to the second ODI two days later.
From there, the ODI moves to Mirpur where three matches will be played on November 26, 28 and December 1.
Zimbabwe Cricket squad to Bangladesh
Brendan Taylor, Sikandar Raza Butt, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Elton Chigumbura, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungodzi, Hamilton Masakadza, Shingirai Masakadza, Wellington Masakadza, Natsai M’shangwe, Richmund Mutumbami, John Nyumbu, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusumuzi Sibanda, Malcolm Waller
Officials: Stephen Mangongo (head coach), Douglas Hondo (assistant coach), Mufaro Chiturumani (manager), Stanley Chioza (match analyst), Walter Karimanzira (fitness trainer), Anesu Mupotaringa (physiotherapist), Givemore Makoni (convener of selectors).
Match Schedule
Three-day game in Fatullah, October 20-22
First Test match in Dhaka, October 25-29
Second Test match in Khulna, 3 to 7 November
Third Test match in Chittagong, 12 to 16 November
One-day practice match in Chittagong, 19 November
First ODI in Chittagong, 21 November
Second ODI in Chittagong, 23 November
Third ODI in Mirpur, 26 November
Fourth ODI in Mirpur, 28 November, and
Fifth ODI in Mirpur, 01 December 2014.
Online Reporter