Aggressive top-order batsmen Charles Coventry and Cephas Zhuwao look set to make a return to the Zimbabwe cricket team for the two Twenty20 (T20) matches against Pakistan starting on Friday.
Zimbabwe will play Pakistan on Friday and Sunday with both matches starting at 1400hrs at Harare Sports Club.
Zimbabwe Cricket chairman of selectors Alistair Campbell confirmed this Wednesday saying the coming in of the two will see off-form middle-order batsman Craig Ervine and spinning all-rounder Greg Lamb making way.
However, it is the return of Coventry which is set to generate some excitement among cricket lovers who felt his selection was long overdue as they know him as a clean hitter of the ball.
Coventry (28) jointly held the world record for the highest individual one-day score 194 with Saeed Anwar before Sachin Tendulkar’s 200 in February 2010.
The bespectacled Matabeleland Tuskers player has not featured for the national team since the ICC Cricket World Cup on the subcontinent.
He has been longing for a return to the national fold and recently made his frustrations known, but now looks set to add to his five caps in the shortest format of the game.
“I had a bit of a tough World Cup, being pushed to open the batting and now I find myself on the sidelines.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“I think they tried to give me a chance at the top because I started getting into some bad form in the middle order,” he said.
“I was usually the guy who had to make sure I was there to finish things off, but at the time (during the World Cup), my role was more to come in upfront and play a few shots and that didn’t work very well. “When that failed I had to get back on the sidelines.”
“I’ve done well batting lower down the order so I’ve just got to keep getting runs at the franchise level and hopefully I can get back in the national side,” said Coventry in a recent interview.
Coventry will not be the only new face in the Twenty20 squad as hard-hitting Mashonaland Eagles opener Cephas Zhuwawo also looks set to add to his three previous caps in T20s.
Zhuwao comes with a fierce reputation on the domestic scene as one of the cleanest hitters of the cricket ball and no doubt his contribution will be crucial.
Zimbabwe squad: Brendan Taylor, Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza, Chamu Chibhabha, Tatenda Taibu, Malcolm Waller, Charles Coventry, Cephas Zhuwao, Prosper Utseya, Ray Price, Kyle Jarvis, Brian Vitori, Christopher Mpofu, Elton Chigumbura, Regis Chakabva
