TOP order batsmen, Nick Welch and Tadiwanashe Marumani have been drafted into the Zimbabwe’s T20 squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier Africa set for Namibia next week.
The Chevrons are scheduled to depart for Windhoek on Sunday and will play their first match on Tuesday against the hosts in their quest to qualify for the T20 games to be co-hosted by West Indies and the USA next year.
Welch, a former English County cricket player and explosive opener, Marumani who had a largely fruitful T10 and National Premier League T20 Blast before missing the playoffs, shrugged off a quad niggle to make it into the final 15.
Newly-appointed Zimbabwe T20 captain, Sikandar Raza heralds the strong list of players tasked with bringing back the country’s glory after losing to Scotland in Bulawayo during the World Cup qualifiers for India. All-rounders Sean Williams, Wessly Madhevere, Ryan Burl Luke Jongwe and opener Innocent Kaia all made the cut together with speed merchants Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Tendai Chatara, spinner Wellington Masakadza and seamer Carl Mumba.
Chevrons head coach Dave Houghton said Welch comes in with a wealth of experience but will need to push hard for a spot against the incumbent top order batsmen.
“I think Welch is probably the newest one in that team and we know a little bit about him because he has a track record in Country Cricket already. Having played three or four years in the T20 Blast for Leicestershire against some of the best bowlers in the world, he has a pretty record overall,” Houghton told NewsDay Sport yesterday.
“It wasn’t just what he was doing in local cricket and in club cricket, he’s got some pedigree. He will come in as one of our replacement batters and hopefully he will get an opportunity on this tour, but I can’t guarantee it because when our full strength is picked, he probably doesn’t make the first 11 as yet. That’s something for him to desire to achieve in the future but he’s a great guy certainly to have as a replacement batsman for us.”
Houghton said the team is rearing to go and perform well in Namibia.
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“We left the guys mainly over the last couple of weeks to continue their franchise cricket, so our practice as a team in earnest started this week. Last week we did some one-to-ones with guys, specific practicing but we let them play the franchise games over the weekend and gave them Monday off. From yesterday (Tuesday), we were back into group net sessions. Today (yesterday) was our fielding session, so we had a good hour-and-half of intense fielding sessions. I thought the standard was excellent,” he added.
“Tomorrow (today), we are back into group net sessions and then on Friday (tomorrow), we are going to play some scenarios out in the middle, we have got some middle practice. Saturday off, Sunday fly and then on Monday we have a practice in Windhoek to play Tuesday. We are all now gearing up for the game on Tuesday against Namibia.
“This is perfect (a week’s team training). We spent a lot of time together and sometimes it’s more beneficial to give the guys rest than just keep bringing them back for practice. I like all our sessions to be quality like today’s (yesterday) fielding was and the only way you get that quality is if guys got a lot of energy, they are fresh and they are ready to go. If you just keep bringing them back more and more, that quality dies down.”
Zimbabwe squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier Africa 2023:
Raza Sikandar (captain), Burl Ryan, Chatara Tendai, Ervine Craig, Jongwe Luke, Kaia Innocent, Madande Clive, Madhevere Wessly, Marumani Tadiwanashe, Masakadza Wellington, Mumba Carl, Muzarabani Blessing, Ngarava Richard, Welch Nicholas, Williams Sean.
