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Senior Sports Reporter
A 20-MAN Zimbabwe A side left the country yesterday morning for a three-week rescheduled tour of Bangladesh where they are to play two unofficial Tests and three One Day Internationals.There had been plans for Zimbabwe A to visit Bangladesh in June, but the monsoon climate conditions prevailing at that time forced the postponement of the tour. The Bangladesh Cricket Board had suggested a July-August window but Zimbabwe refused because they had to host a tri-series which involved Australia and South Africa.
Opening batsman Vusumuzi Sibanda whose game has taken a knock leads the squad for a trip where a number of former national team players are hoping to impress and possibly return to the Chevrons.
“The Zimbabwe A team left this morning and they will be in Asia for about three weeks. There are quite a number of former national team players in the squad who are keen on proving a point that they deserve to be in the first team which means they will give their best shot.
“Next month the senior team will be going for a tour of Bangladesh and if the coaches feel there are some players from the Zimbabwe A side that they might need for their trip then there might be guys returning to Asia,” said the Zimbabwe Cricket media and communications manager Lovemore Banda.
Seasoned players also making it for the Bangladesh trip are wicketkeeper Raymond Mutumbami from the now defunct Southern Rocks, Mark Vermeulen who resumed Test action after a decade, Shingirai Masakadza and Tinotenda Mawoyo.
Mutumbami who had been forced out of the tri-series involving Zimbabwe, South Africa and Australia with a fractured right fore arm has recovered to make the squad.
Matabeleland Tuskers’ exciting top-order batsman Brian Juru makes it for the tour alongside other players viewed to be future stars in the One Day matches Joylord Gumbie, Neville Madziva and Forster Mutizwa.
Zimbabwe A squad for Bangladesh: Vusumuzi Sibanda (captain), Regis Chakabva, Brian Chari, Michael Chinouya, Joylord Gumbie, Luke Jongwe, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Neville Madziva, Timycen Maruma, Shingirai Masakadza, Tinotenda Mawoyo, Kudakwashe Munyede, Tawanda Mupariwa, Forster Mutizwa, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Richmond Mutumbami, Taurai Muzarabani, Mark Vermeulen, Malcolm Waller
Technical: M Chiturumani (head coach), S Makunura (assistant coach/manager), D Hondo (bowling coach), N Mutandwa (physiotherapist)
Zimbabwe A tour of Bangladesh
September 14-17 – 1st unofficial Test
September 21-24 – 2nd unofficial Test
September 27 – 1st unofficial ODI
September 29- 2nd unofficial ODI
October 1 – 3rd unofficial ODI
Online Reporter