FOLLOWING the conclusion of the high-profile series against Australia and South Africa, Zimbabwe shift their attention to the upcoming cricket tour of Bangladesh with the A side expected to leave for the subcontinent nation today.
DANIEL NHAKANISO SPORTS REPORTER
The Zimbabwe A, comprising mostly of development players and a few senior players, will play against their Bangladesh counterparts in two four-day matches and three 50-over matches from September 14 to October 1.
Former Zimbabwe coach Walter Chawaguta was expected to take charge of the Zimbabwe A during the tour, but Zimbabwe Cricket sources told NewsDay Sport that he had since been replaced by Mufaro Chituramani.
Chituramani has previously worked with Stephen Mangongo at Mountaineers and Mashonaland Eagles.
According to the tour itinerary the first four-day match between the two starts on Sunday at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox’s Bazaar. The Zimbabwe A tour is expected to provide an opportunity for some of the fringe players to impress ahead of the Zimbabwe senior side’s tour starting on October 26.
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It will also be a chance for some of the senior national team players to adjust to the conditions in Bangladesh before the Mangongo-coached side arrives in the Asian country.
Zimbabwe will play three Tests and five one-day international (ODI) matches during the bilateral series which runs until November 28.
Some of the players to feature for the Zimbabwe A side were part of the national representative side that finished third at the inaugural Global Softech Sixes tournament in South Africa at the weekend.
The team, which was coached by former national coach Any Waller, beat Namibia by four wickets in the third place playoff at SuperSport Park in Centurion. Namibia had finished on 92 for three in their allotted 5 overs which Zimbabwe, who had finished third in the six-team pool, easily chased down after finishing on 96 for two.
Meanwhile, South Africa were crowned the champions of the inaugural Global Softech Sixes tournament after beating Kenya by six wickets in the final. Kenya made 91 for two in their allotted five overs and South Africa won comfortably with 10 balls to spare.
Six South African domestic franchises and six African countries — Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe and the host, South Africa — participated in the six-a-side tournament which consisted of five overs per team.
Zimbabwe A tour to Bangladesh Itinerary Sept 14 — 1st unofficial Test — Bangladesh A v Zimbabwe A (Cox’s Bazar) Sept 21 — 2nd unofficial Test — Bangladesh A v Zimbabwe A (Fatullah) Sept 27 — 1st unofficial ODI — Bangladesh A v Zimbabwe A (Fatullah) Sept 29 — 2nd unofficial ODI — Bangladesh A v Zimbabwe A (Fatullah) Oct 1 — 3rd unofficial ODI — Bangladesh A v Zimbabwe A (Fatullah) Zimbabwe Tour of Bangladesh Itinerary Oct 26 — 1st Test — Bangladesh v Zimbabwe (Chittagong) Nov 7 — 2nd Test — Bangladesh v Zimbabwe (Chittagong) Nov 11 — 3rd Test — Bangladesh v Zimbabwe (Dhaka) Nov 19 — 1st ODI — Bangladesh v Zimbabwe (Dhaka) Nov 21 — 2nd ODI – Bangladesh v Zimbabwe (Dhaka) Nov 23 — 3rd ODI — Bangladesh v Zimbabwe (Dhaka) Nov 26 — 4th ODI — Bangladesh v Zimbabwe (Chittagong) Nov 28 — 5th ODI — Bangladesh v Zimbabwe (Chittagong)