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Mutumbami climbs batting order, Chigumbura drops

Sport
The Zimbabwe national cricket team coaches are set to restore captain Elton Chigumbura back to the number seven spot when they take on Pakistan in the one-day internationals (ODI).

The Zimbabwe national cricket team coaches are set to restore captain Elton Chigumbura back to the number seven spot when they take on Pakistan in the one-day internationals (ODI).

by Kevin Mapasure

Since returning from the World Cup, Chigumbura had been reinvented to a number four, a position, where he thrived particularly during the tour of Pakistan, where he scored his maiden century.

The likely promotion of wicketkeeper batsman Richmond Mutumbami to an opening slot has necessitated further positional shifts and Chigumbura will be the most affected.

Elton-Chigumbura

Craig Ervine is likely to retain the number three position, where he has excelled, while Hamilton Masakadza will be at four.

Sean Williams will take the number five slot, while Sikandar Raza Butt comes in ahead of Chigumbura.

Zimbabwe will hope that experimenting with Mutumbami at the top will work out, as well as did the promotion of Craig Ervine, who went on to hit a century against New Zealand to guide the team to a crushing win.

In the last few matches, Chamu Chibhabha, who has made the other opening slot his own, has partnered with Masakadza to face the new ball.

That combination is likely to be retained for the T-20s.

In their recent home series against India and New Zealand, Zimbabwe struggled for a finisher and the move to drop Chigumbura down to the lower middle order could help find some balance.

Zimbabwe will play Pakistan first in two T-20s before they engage in a three match ODI series.

The first T-20 will be played on Sunday at the Harare Sports Club with the second on Tuesday.

The Dav Whatmore-coached Zimbabwe side is desperate for some success after near misses in their last three tours.

They felt they should have won some matches against Pakistan in Lahore and they will be looking to make adjustments that can finally deliver some wins if not a series victory.

Pakistan will bring in a strong squad for both versions of the limited overs and Zimbabwe should expect a tough test.

The Zimbabwe squad continued with its preparations at Harare Sports Club yesterday ahead of a tour they feel they have a good chance of causing an upset.

Williams, who missed some training time last week, hit a half century in a T-20 practice match on Tuesday.