THE Zimbabwe senior men’s cricket team is sharpening its skills ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, drawing on the expertise of legendary West Indies bowler Courtney Walsh.
Walsh joined the squad as a bowling consultant, working closely with players to refine their techniques and strategies, particularly in subcontinental conditions where the tournament is being held.
His involvement is a boost to Zimbabwe’s World Cup preparations, as his experience in subcontinental conditions strengthens the team’s bowling attack ahead of a tough Group B that includes Australia, Ireland and hosts Sri Lanka.
Speaking to NewsDay Sport from Sri Lanka, head coach Justin Sammons said the team has been tapping into Walsh's wealth of knowledge, both before leaving for the Asian country and during their current camp in Sri Lanka.
"It's been great having Courtney over the last few weeks. He's really getting to know the bowlers now, and for them to get to know him, which is cool," Sammons said.
He encouraged the players to make the most of Walsh’s experience.
"He's a great sounding board to have in the team. I hope they really are going to utilise him in terms of asking as many questions as possible. It's not just about helping out in Sri Lanka, it's about moving forward into their careers,” Sammons said.
He said Walsh's expertise has been invaluable in helping the team prepare for the challenges of the tournament.
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“Courtney's experience and knowledge of the game are assets we can't ignore. We're making the most of his presence, and I'm sure it will pay dividends in the long run,” Sammons said.
Walsh, who has extensive experience playing in subcontinental conditions, has already begun working with the squad, focusing on fine-tuning the bowlers' techniques and strategies. Together with Sammons technical team are expected to help Zimbabwe navigate the challenges of the T20 World Cup.
The locals faced the Netherlands yesterday, in a warm-up match ahead of their World Cup Group B opener against Oman on Sunday.
Zimbabwe posted 178/9, led by Ryan Burl’s unbeaten 50 off 31 balls. Contributions from Dion Myers (32), Tadiwanashe Marumani (28), and captain Sikandar Raza (20) helped set a competitive total. Richard Ngarava took three wickets, while Graeme Cremer and Wellington Masakadza took two each, as Zimbabwe bowled out the Netherlands for 149 to win by 29 runs.
The squad features a mix of experience and youth, led by in-form captain Raza. Talented young openers Brian Bennett and Marumani, returning stars Brendan Taylor and Cremer, and a potent bowling duo of Blessing Muzarabani and Ngarava provide Zimbabwe with depth and balance.
Zimbabwe’s next matches will be against Australia, Ireland, and hosts Sri Lanka.
ZIMBABWE ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Squad:
Sikandar Raza (captain), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Brendan Taylor
