Zimbabwe Name 16-Man Squad
Robert Cribb
22nd August, 2005
Zimbabwe have named a 16-man squad for the upcoming Tri-Series, which includes New Zealand and India. Several players, including Stuart Carlisle, Craig Wishart, Charles Coventry, Waddington Mwangenga, Vusi Sibanda and Blessing Mahwire, have been recalled to the ODI squad after absences for a wide range of reasons. Notable omissions include Stuart Matsikenyeri, Dion Ebrahim, Mark Vermeulen, Barney Rogers, Chris Mpofu and Douglas Hondo. While Hondo is injured, the others seem to have been dropped, which is particularly harsh on Barney Rogers who has performed admirably in ODIs recently, and has been one of their better batsmen. The selection of Sibanda, who has played 24 ODIs for an average of 11.78, over Rogers, who averages 31.86 (and 37.50 this year), suggests that the woes of Zimbabwean selection are far from over. One can only hope that Rogers was left out due to injury.
Kevin Curran will be in charge of Zimbabwe for the first time, and has aspirations of a quick transformation from the players. "I want all the team to rapidly improve by 5%, because that will impact on the team as a whole. I am a team man but also a really competitive person, and always have been. I want that to rub off and I'm sure it will," he said. Zimbabwe start their campaign on Wednesday, when they play New Zealand.
Full Squad:
Tatenda Taibu (c), Heath Streak (vc), Brendan Taylor, Charles Coventry, Vusi Sibanda, Stuart Carlisle, Craig Wishart, Hamilton Masakaza, Andy Blignaut, Gavin Ewing, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Keith Dabengwa, Blessing Mahwire, Prosper Utseya, Edward Rainsford, Waddington Mwayenga.