Zimbabwe Cricket selection panel will have a tough task on hand as they pick two teams for the one-day cricket tri-series against South African and Australian A sides and two four-day matches against Australia A from Wednesday next week to July 24.
Chairman of selectors Alistair Campbell said a spate of injuries to some of the key players was a cause for concern as it raised questions about the fitness levels of some of the players.
Matabeleland Tuskers opener Terry Duffin became the latest casualty with a cruciate ligament injury to join all-rounder Keegan Meth, leg spinner Graeme Cremer and top-order batsmen Tinotenda Mawoyo.
Cremer, who has established himself as a key part of the spin bowling stocks, will definitely give the selectors a few headaches while Mawoyo could have been an option to the problematic opening partnership.
Meth blossomed last season leading Matabeleland Tuskers’ attack with increasing proficiency and was a key factor in Tuskers’ Logan Cup triumph and his absence will also be felt.
Campbell said the injured quartet were now a doubt for the one-dayers but said he was still optimistic they would be available for the four-day matches with Australia A side.
“These are all key players who we were considering and would have played a part in both the one-dayers and the four day games but it now looks as if they could miss some parts of the series.
“It would have been nice to have all the players available for selection as we wanted to field our strongest side in the one-dayers.
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“In the four-day games we will have more room to asses other players especially in the fast-bowling department where we have players like Kyle Jarvis who has been doing well at Essex in the UK as well as other players.” Campbell said.
The former national team skipper added that despite the injuries he was impressed with the fitness levels of the players but added that the players still needed to work harder.
“These are all some of the rigours of international cricket and it’s something that we are going to have to be prepared for. No doubt the players have been working hard on their fitness, which is a very important factor in international cricket especially as we are going to be returning to the Test fold,” said Campbell.
Though the team that will play against Australia and South Africa A will officially be a Zimbabwe XI side, in effect it will be the full- strength national side taking part in the games as part of their preparations for the Test return against Bangladesh in early August.
Seven limited-overs games will be played between the three teams between June 29 and July 8, followed by two four-day matches against Australia A between July 15 and July 24.
Zimbabwe will play Australia in the first match of the series at Harare Sports Club next Wednesday.
Training squad: Sikander Raza, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Maxwell Chifamba, Elton Chigumbura, Mike Chinouya, Charles Coventry, Graeme Cremer, Terrence Duffin, Tochukwu Enwerem, Craig Ervine, Kyle Jarvis, Greg Lamb, Lovemore Manatsa, Hamilton Masakadza, Shingirai Masakadza, Tino Mawoyo, Keegan Meth, Chris Mpofu, Natsai Mushangwe, Forster Mutizwa, Njabulo Ncube, Ian Nicolson, Tinashe Panyangara, Ray Price, Ed Rainsford, Vusi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu, Brendon Taylor, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori
