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Plenty at stake for fringe players in Africa T20 Cup

Sport
WITH the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 to be held in India fast approaching, national cricket team fringe players will have a chance to impress the selectors when they line up for the President’s XI in the inaugural Africa T20 Cup tournament in South Africa today.

WITH the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 to be held in India fast approaching, national cricket team fringe players will have a chance to impress the selectors when they line up for the President’s XI in the inaugural Africa T20 Cup tournament in South Africa today.

by DANIEL NHAKANISO

The continental Twenty20 tournament got underway yesterday, but the Zimbabwe President’s XI only kickstart their campaign today with a double header against South African sides Easterns and Northerns at Sahara Park Willowmoore in Benoni.

The Douglas Hondo-coached side open their campaign against an Easterns side which features Proteas opener, Quinton de Kock who is fresh from scoring three centuries in successive innings for South Africa A on their tour of India.

In what should be a busy 48 hours, the Zimbabwe President’s XI will then tackle the Albie Morkel-captained Northerns side later in the day before returning tomorrow at the same venue to complete their pool A fixtures against Western Province.

Zimbabwe's Malcolm Waller takes the catch of New Zealand's Brendon McCullum during the second twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Zimbabwe at Seddon Park in Hamilton on February 14, 2012.    AFP PHOTO / MARTY MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images)
Zimbabwe’s Malcolm Waller takes the catch of New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum during the second twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Zimbabwe at Seddon Park in Hamilton on February 14, 2012. AFP PHOTO / MARTY MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images)

Zimbabwe President’s XI will be hoping to finish top of Pool A for them to advance to the semi-finals and the finals of the competition to be held on October 3 and 4 respectively.

With most of Zimbabwe’s established players unavailable because of the upcoming tour by Pakistan, the Africa T20 Cup offers a chance for the fringe players to stake their claim for a place in the national side.

Zimbabwe Cricket convener of selectors Kenyon Ziehl summed it all up when he said the Africa T20 Cup was an opportunity for the players to make their mark.

“We have gone with a combination of youth and experience, and the idea is to give an opportunity to fringe players to put their hands up in light of the International Cricket Council World Twenty20 tournament early next year,” said Ziehl.

Zimbabwe President’s XI team captain Malcolm Waller together with bowlers Donald Tiripano and Neville Madziva are some of the players, who have been in and out of the national team set-up and could be looking to use the upcoming matches to make a statement.There are also other players like the duo of Tinotenda Mutombodzi and top order batsman Roy Kaia, who both had an impressive domestic season for their franchises.

With Zimbabwe having recently struggled to fill the void left by Brendan Taylor, wicketkeeper batsmen Richmond Mutumbami and PJ Moor could see the upcoming matches as an opportunity to stake a claim for the role.

Zimbabwe President’s XI Squad: Malcolm Waller (capt), Richmond Mutumbami, Kevin Kasuza, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Peter Moor, Luke Jongwe, Kaia Roy, Wellington Masakadza, Taurai Muzarabani, Neville Madziva, Donald Tiripano, Kudzai Sauramba, Joylord Gumbie

Support Staff: Douglas Hondo (head coach), Anesu Mupotaringa (physiotherapist) and Stanley Chioza (assistant coach)

Pool A Fixtures: (All matches will be televised live by SuperSport)

Today: Western Province v Northerns (0930), Easterns v Zimbabwe (1300), Northerns v Zimbabwe (1630)

Tomorrow: Zimbabwe v Western Province (1000), Easterns v Northerns (1330)