Zim cricket’s positive problem

Zim cricket’s positive problem

By Makomborero Mutimukulu

NEWLY appointed convenor of selectors Alistair Campbell and his team must be having sleepless nights amid intense competition for national team shirts ahead of the five-match ODI series against Bangladesh next month.

As The Tigers were riding on cloud nine with a historic Test win over a depleted West Indies in the Caribbean, a provisional 19-member Zimbabwe squad was drenching Harare Sports Club in sweat.

Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza, Chamunorwa Chibhabha and returnee Mark Vermeulen spent the week making strong cases for the opening batsman’s slot.

Walter Chawaguta, the national team coach who also sits on the selection committee, disclosed that he is yet to make his mind on the opening partnership he will trust with doing battle against Bangladesh in Bulawayo.

"I am having a positive headache with regards to the opening partnership," said the national team coach.

"We have four good batsmen in Vusi, Mark, Chibhabha and Masakadza, who are striking the ball well and pushing hard for that opening slot.

"Vermeulen has been working hard since his return and will definitely be in the top three, but I am not sure as to whether he will open the batting or will come in at number three," added Chawaguta.

The return of Vermeulen and Charles Coventry seems to have scared some national team players who were of late floating in the comfort zone.

Despite putting up some shoddy performances, some lads continued to put on the national team shirt due to a thin player base.

"The time for us to play someone because he is the only one available has gone. Every member of the 19-man squad we will be taking to Victoria Falls for a team-bonding session next weekend appreciates that they will only take to the park against Bangladesh on merit.

"So intense has been the competition that we are yet to decide whether to name a 15-man squad or just stick with 19, which is something we can afford to do as we are having a home series," said Chawaguta.

Chawaguta added that with the Bangladeshi visit drawing closer, attention has now turned to working on some parts of his team’s game that need perfecting.

On Friday the national team coach spent an extra hour on the park "perfecting" the art of effecting run-outs with all-rounder Graeme Cremer.

Meanwhile, captain Prosper Utseya, fully aware that only a series victory over Bangladesh will suffice, has implored his troops to be "hungry for success and have the killer instinct".

Over the years Zimbabwe have carved themselves a reputation of playing well in one session and horribly losing the plot in the next, something Utseya wants addressed.

"We cannot continue hiding behind the fact that we are young and learning, it’s about time we started delivering," the national team captain reportedly told his teammates during behind-door meetings.

Utseya, in an interview, disclosed that they would be looking at slogging the Bangladeshi spinners, who have always given Zimbabwe nightmares, out of their rhythm.

"It is imperative that we play their spinners well because on a number of occasions we have lost to Bangladesh because we failed to deal with their spin attack.

"I believe everyone who is in camp now appreciates that we have to be hungry for success, have the killer instinct rather than be content with playing well without winning," he said.

With most players having averaged over 50 ODIs, the nation expects Walter Chawaguta’s side to do the business against Bangladesh, who will be jetting into the country on a high after their exploits against the troubled West Indies.

The return of players such as Vermeulen and the good form of some Zimbabwe A lads has given the selectors options and increased competition for places in the final squad.

All eyes are now on former opener Campbell and his committee as they finalise the selection of a team that has no option but to get an emphatic series win over the Tigers.