ZIMBABWE Cricket (ZC) say they were always confident India would go ahead with their tour in July-August despite the uncertainty surrounding the series after reports last month that India had decided to put it on hold.
Report by Daniel Nhakaniso
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) yesterday finally confirmed that India would come to Zimbabwe soon after finishing their tri-series in the West Indies, involving Sri Lanka as the third team, which ends on July 11.
“We have always been confident that India would tour the country because the Indian board had said nothing to the contrary.”
“This is why the national team has been in camp since May 27 preparation for the upcoming Indian tour because as far as we are concerned it has never been doubt.”
“The only issue that’s left is the confirmation of the schedule which should be released as soon as the two boards have agreed on the dates,” Lovemore Banda, ZC’s media and communications manager.
Originally, India were scheduled to play only three one-dayers but the tour has been swelled to five one-dayers with three matches to be played in Harare and two in Bulawayo and would also benefit ZC financially in terms of television rights they hold as the hosts.
The tour was cleared at the BCCI working committee’s emergent meeting in Delhi. The working committee also confirmed India A’s tour of South Africa in August, India under-19 team’s tour of Australia in June-July and India under-19 team’s tour of Sri Lanka in August.
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The Indian national team players have been on the road since the start of the home series against England last November.
India last toured Zimbabwe in 2010 when Suresh Raina captained a young side, and India didn’t make it to the final of the one-day tri-series which also included Sri Lanka.
Reports suggest there won’t be dynamic changes to the side this time.
A squad of 27 players has been in camp from ay 27 in preparation for the tour except for Chamu Chibhabha, who took up a contract to play club cricket in the UK and Tino Mawoyo, who is still recovering from injury.
Meanwhile, the confirmation of the Indian tour will come as good news to newly appointed coach Andy Waller as it will be his first assignment since taking over as head coach after the Bangladesh series.
English County Cricket Club Yorkshire’s strength and conditioning coach Tom Summers is also expected in the country on Friday for a five-day fitness training session with the team ahead of the tour.
