Series Thread: Al Barakha Cup (Canada T20)

Fixtures:

Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe - King City - October 10

Canada v Zimbabwe - King City - October 11

Pakistan v Zimbabwe - King City - October 12

Zimbabwe squad: Prosper Utseya (c), Regis Chakabva (wk), Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Graeme Cremer, Keith Dabengwa, Timycen Maruma, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Christopher Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa, Taurai Muzarabani, Raymond Price, Tatenda Taibu (wk), Cephas Zhuwawo.

Weather: Friday (19°C | 5°C), Saturday (21°C | 9°C), Sunday (23°C | 10°C)

My predictions are that we will beat Canada quite convincingly, and not embarrass ourselves against Pakistan or Sri Lanka. We are capable of producing an upset (although it will be hard without our proven T20 performers Taylor and Sibanda) but if we do it will be the result of good bowling, as it was against Australia. With no Gary Brent we lose a good economic bowler, so we have to hope that Mupariwa will fill that gap and that Chigumbura will be the wicket taker he normally is.

I don't think this batting lineup is capable of more than 120 runs against decent opposition (but 140 with Taylor, 150 with Taylor and Sibanda), so that has to be the target for the bowlers to restrict the opposition to. Stuart Matsikenyeri must step up. He's been on the scene for what, 6 years now? He's done next to nothing in that time... I feel that his reputation has been carrying him for some time (ie. he made the 2003 World Cup squad with the likes of Andy & Grant Flower, Heath Streak etc, then he must be good) and he needs to start letting the bat do the talking.

Obviously Hamilton Masakadza is the key batsman, followed by Chamu Chibhabha who I think will do well batting at his preferred number three position again. Taibu has a lot hanging over his head, and while he is a good ODI and Test player, he has performed poorly in both the IPL and the T20 International's he's played. It would be nice to see him slaughter the opposition, perhaps score a century (against Canada, this is a real possibility for the entire top order - especially Masakadza) but as maehara said in another thread, it's pretty unlikely.

Now, my prediction for the Sri Lanka game: Taibu, Masakadza, Chibhabha, Matsikenyeri, Chakabva, Dabengwa, Chigumbura, Utseya, Price, Mupariwa, Mpofu

Marumisa made the ICC World Twenty20 squad but didn't play, I think this will be the case for Zhuwawo to an extent. Play Sri Lanka with the best possible team (and if we win, play the same team against Pakistan), but play Zhuwawo against Canada (probably in place of Dabengwa) and again against Pakistan for the experience if we lost the Sri Lanka game.