Zimbabwe has in the past lost most of its established international players to other countries and the continued loss of talent is now also being felt in the junior national teams, with most young players opting against returning to play for the country after moving abroad.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
The situation is now so dire to the extent that the Zimbabwe Under-19 cricket team to represent the country at next year’s Under-19 cricket World Cup in Bangladesh will be without some the country’s brightest cricket prospects.
Last week one of the country’s most promising young players Ed Byrom was signed up to join the Somerset Academy in reward for his outstanding performances for King College and Somerset Second XI.
The 18-year-old young star, who does not feature in Zimbabwe’s provisional squad for the Under-19 World Cup to be held in Bangladesh, is among the several promising Zimbabwean players, who have left Zimbabwe in the last 12 months through cricket scholarships in England.
Others who quickly come to mind include 17-year-old Nick Welch, a former national Under-17 star, who was highly-rated in local cricket circles, playing three first-class matches for Mashonaland Eagles last season aged 16.
Welch could also be headed the same way as Byrom after featuring for the Surrey Second XI, while Sam and Tom Curran, the sons of the late Zimbabwe national cricket team coach Kevin, also look destined to play for England.
“It’s obviously an area of concern, however, as much as we would love to retain most of our talented players, at the end of the day it all goes down to individual preferences and choices,” said assistant coach Alester Maregwede.
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Maregwede, who played two Tests and 11 ODIs for Zimbabwe, is part of the technical department for the Under-19 side, preparing for the World Cup to be held in Bangladesh early next year.
The former wicketkeeper and middle order batsman said he was most disappointed by the fact that most of the players who are leaving would have represented in the younger age group teams such as the Under-12s.
“What is most disturbing is that we have a situation where we have looked after players from as young as 12 years. They are the sort of players you would want to progress to the various age group teams such as the Under-16, Under-19s and later the first-class teams and ultimately to play international cricket for Zimbabwe. However, like I said it all goes down to individual choices and we just have to hope that they stay in the system,” he said.
Maregwede was, however, still optimistic the group of promising young players they have selected was still strong enough to make an impact at the next year’s World Cup.
A group of 39 players make up the provisional squad, which started preparations this week at the High Performance Centre at Harare Country Club in Newlands.
The squad will be trimmed to 30 players ahead of planned preparatory matches against Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
The Under-19 side is also expected to play in the annual Cubs Week tournament in South Africa, but before that reports in India say the team is scheduled to arrive there in November to play five ODI matches.
“We picked our provisional squad from the inter-provincial trials and we are now having a look at the boys before we trim down the squad to 30 players,” said Maregwede. “We will have the traditional Cubs Week in South Africa at the start of January. We are also hoping to play two tour matches, one against Bangladesh and Afghanistan, which are yet to be finalised.”
The Under-19 World Cup, takes place from January 20 to February 14.
Zimbabwe achieved their best result at the 2004 Under-19 World Cup held in United Arab Emirates, when they finished sixth ahead of the likes of South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and the hosts.
National team seam bowler Tinashe Panyangara hogged the limelight during the tournament when he took six wickets for 31 runs to help bowl out the Australia Under-19 side for a measly 73 runs.
Zimbabwe Under-19 Provisional Squad: Witness Chilimba (Glen View), Tatenda Chiradza, (Prince Edward), Aaash Jah (St Georges), Jeremy Ives (SA), Patel Kumar (Peterhouse), Sean Snyder (Falcon), Trevor Chibvongodze (Jameson), Jameson Chikowero (Jameson), Blessed Mutize (Kyle College), Brendon Sly (St Georges), William Mashinge (Watershed), Dean Peall (Peterhouse), Ryan Murray (St Georges College), Adam Keefe (Falcon), Lawrence Magwenzi (Kyle), Jonathan Campbell (Falcon), Keith Jaure (First Choice College), Carl Robinson (Peterhouse), Walter Huchu (Peterhouse), Michael Rossi (St Johns College), Rugare Magarira (Eaglesvale), Mathew Conolly (Falcon), Takudzwa Takodza (Churchill), Brendon Mavuta (Churchill), Tawanda Mhere (Kyle College), Tinashe Muchawaya (Marondera), Richard Ngarava (Churchill), Kundai Matigimu (SA), Blessing Muzarabani (Highfields), Tatenda Kutyauripo (Glen View), Sean Hinmers (Falcon), Davis Murwendo (Prince Edward), Sydney Murombo (Chiredzi), Douglas Murove (Kyle), Matthew Macnab (Falcon), Tariro Kapungu (Chinhoyi), Adrian Kock (Peterhouse), Ashlon Chibvuri (Churchill), Simon Taylor (St Andrews)
