ZIMBABWE Cricket is lining up two white ball cricket tours with Netherlands and Pakistan, which will help the Chevrons prepare for the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup qualifiers to be hosted in the country this winter.
The country will host a 14-team tournament to determine who takes up two slots to the global tournament which will be staged in India.
Zimbabwe hopes to take advantage of home comforts to clinch one of the available slots, having missed out on the last World Cup.
Captain Craig Ervine revealed that there will be more One Day cricket coming up in the next few months that will help the team in its preparations.
“We have got Netherlands coming here in March for three ODIs and there is talk of Pakistan also coming here around April–May leading up to the qualifiers so I think there is a fair bit of cricket and we will also squeeze in our domestic T-20 tournament,” he said.
He said they also have to be careful about the amount of cricket they will play leading up to the qualifiers as they may put themselves at risk of getting injuries.
“You don’t wanna have too much cricket otherwise you will risk guys getting injuries.”
The team has been ravaged by injuries over the last few months with the Test side fielding a depleted squad for their two matches against West Indies starting tomorrow at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
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They will be without Sean Williams as well as bowlers Tendai Chatara and Blessing Muzarabani. Muzarabani missed the home series against Ireland owing to injury.
Ryan Burl and Sikandar Raza have been allowed to miss the Tests as they participate in money-spinning T20 leagues in Asia.
The withdrawal of inform players, has left Zimbabwe facing an uphill task ahead of the two-match Test series.
Zimbabwe Cricket selectors were on Tuesday evening forced to announce an under-strength side that will face the West Indies who have all their big hitters.
The hosts will be led by the limited overs captain Ervine, who is standing in for Williams.
While Williams was ruled out due to a broken finger, Ervine himself had been a major doubt for the series due to a finger injury, but is now expected to be fit ahead of the first Test on Saturday.
Due to the high number of absentees, the selectors have included the uncapped quintet of wicketkeeper batsman Tafadzwa Tsiga, seamer Bradley Evans and batsmen Joylord Gumbie, Kudzai Maunze and Tanunurwa Makoni, who are all in line for a Test debut should they win selection in the final XI.
Zimbabwe squad:
Gary Ballance, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Tanaka Chivanga, Craig Ervine (c), Bradley Evans, Joylord Gumbie, Innocent Kaia, Tanunurwa Makoni, Wellington Masakadza, Kudzai Maunze, Brandon Mavuta, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Milton Shumba, Donald Tiripano, Tafadzwa Tsiga.
