Zimbabwe Cricket yesterday announced the final 15-man squad to take on visiting New Zealand in the first and second one-day internationals (ODI) with Regis Chakabva assuming the wicketkeeper’s role from Richmond Mutumbami, who was dropped from the team after doing the job against India a couple of weeks ago.
By Munyaradzi Madzokere
The three-match ODI series begins at Harare Sports Club on Sunday and coach Dav Whatmore seems to have opted to bolster the batting line-up with the inclusion of Chakabva.
Following a subdued World Cup performance back in February and March, the 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman was dropped from the team before a call-up against India where he played the third ODI only as a batsman.
In that match, he produced the second best score of 27 for Zimbabwe as the team lost by 83 runs to the ruthless visitors.
During the India tour, Mutumbami surrendered the keeping gloves to Charles Coventry, who is also missing in the Zimbabwe squad, as the veteran assumed the duties in the T20 series
Chakabva’s inclusion brings the number of batters assured of a starting place in the match in the first ODI against the Black Caps to seven, a long batting order by any standards.
The good news is that Zimbabwe welcome back captain Elton Chigumbura, who had to sit out of the team’s famous T20 victory over India after suffering a hamstring injury leaving Sikandar Raza to take over the reins.
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Fast bowler Tinashe Panyangara, who only played a single match against the Indians, has also recovered in time for the New Zealand assignment and is set to spearhead the Zimbabwe attack.
There was also room for 20-year-old all-rounder Luke Jongwe as well as spinner John Nyumbu, whose last outing for Zimbabwe was back in December 2014 when Stephen Mangongo was still the national team coach.
Neville Madziva, impressive in the ODIs against India, especially in Panyangara’s absence, gets another opportunity to fight for a place in the starting line-up. Zimbabwe will play the second ODI on Tuesday.
Zimbabwe squad
Elton Chigumbura (capt), Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza, Sikandar Raza Butt, Sean Williams, Regis Chakabva (wicketkeeper), Graeme Cremer, Prosper Utseya,Tinashe Panyangara, Christopher Mpofu,John Nyumbu,Vusimuzi Sibanda, Luke Jongwe, Neville Madziva
