ZIMBABWE cricket team bowling coach Makhaya Ntini took his charges through a gruelling fitness session yesterday before emphasising the need for the national side to reach peak physical condition ahead of the upcoming ICC World Twenty20 to be held in India.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
The former premier fast bowler, who was unveiled by Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) last week, took charge of the national team’s training session at Harare Sports Club yesterday in the absence of head coach Dav Whatmore, who was reportedly unwell.
Ntini, a known fitness fanatic during his playing days with the South Africa cricket team, emphasised on the importance of fitness as the team faces a gruelling itinerary.
“I’m a firm believer in fitness,” Ntini told NewsDay Sport yesterday. “I believe as an international cricketer one has to be fit. If one is fit it makes everything else easier on the field of play and he becomes strong both mentally and physically,” he said.
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“You can’t tell me you’re ready only from your mind when the body is not ready. I’m quite happy that the players understand the importance of fitness and have been putting in the hard work.
“I believe we have struck an understanding with regard to having a plan from the word go. For instance, who is bowling where and who is doing what? In short, I believe everyone has an understanding of their role in the squad.”
The national cricket side is expected to leave the country today for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where they are expected to play preparatory matches against West Indies and a local select team in Sharjah. Zimbabwe will then play Ireland and India in official World T20 warm-up matches.
Zimbabwe will be desperate to progress from Group B of the first round of the ICC World T20 competition with Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Scotland, where only the group winners will join the eight top-ranked sides in the Super 10 stage.
The Mdingi Express, as Ntini is affectionately known, said he was pleased with the amount of game time the team would have in the lead-up to the global T20 competition.
“We are fortunate that we have got the time to be able to train hard and play practice matches before the World T20 tournament. I’m sure all those factors are going to put us in a better position come the actual tournament and I’m confident the boys will be ready,” he said.
“We’ve been trying to emphasise the need for our bowlers to hit the right areas consistently. Not trying to change by bowling the slower balls and other variations. Any dot balls in T20 cricket are vital. We’ve also been working hard on death bowling and I’m sure you will see an improvement from the guys at the World T20,” Ntini said.
ZC selectors last week named the final 15-member squad for the ICC World T20 following the conclusion of the domestic T20 competition played in Bulawayo.
Fast bowler Tendai Chatara was recalled after almost a year on the sidelines due to a fractured left leg, while Tinashe Panyangara, who missed the recent T20 series in Bangladesh with a back injury, is also back in the squad.
Zimbabwe also picked three specialist spinners in vice-captain Graeme Cremer, Tendai Chisoro and Wellington Masakadza, while skipper Hamilton Masakadza is expected to lead from the front in the batting department.
Zimbabwe squad for the World T20: Hamilton Masakadza (capt), Sean Williams, Tendai Chatara, Wellington Masakadza, Tinashe Panyangara, Peter Moor, Elton Chigumbura, Sikandar Raza, Richmond Mutumbami (wk), Luke Jongwe, Tendai Chisoro, Neville Madziva, Malcolm Waller, Vusi Sibanda, Graeme Cremer, Donald Tiripano (stand-by)