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Dav Whatmore

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
A 23-MAN Zimbabwe national cricket squad began a five-day training camp at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo yesterday, with coach Davenell Whatmore saying they chose the City of Kings to get away from distraction in Harare. Zimbabwe host cricket powerhouse India in three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 matches from June 8-23 at Harare Sports Club.

The ODIs will be played on June 11, 13 and 15, and T20s on June 18, 20 and 22.

“I think the major reasons for getting away from training at the match venue (Harare Sports Club) are to spend time together, freshen up and get away from distractions. We’re going to play some training games here at Queens and we’ll work on all aspects of the game, which will help us achieve desired results,” said Whatmore.

The playing surface at Harare Sports Club has always had a bit of pace and seam for the fast bowlers to start with, but generally has a very even bounce and can be on the flat side, while Queens’ is more of a batsman’s paradise with its patches of green grass. There are small cracks on the track, but the clay is hard and well bound that the surface hardly breaks up.

The Queens’ wicket is actually similar to those found on the subcontinent, but Whatmore defended his decision for choosing Bulawayo for the workout, saying it was no big deal that the track has some grass unlike Harare Sports Club because they were focusing on improving variation.

“We want to ensure that our bowlers are in the right shape and the batsmen are able to get decent scores that should put us in positions to win us games. We’re having a training game and on Wednesday I’m sure you’ll have a chance to speak to the bowling coach (Makhaya Ntini) to get his views on the wickets,” Whatmore said.

Among the 23 players training in Bulawayo are Sikandar Raza Butt, Hamilton Masakadza, Graeme Cremer, Sean Williams and Tawanda Mupariwa. The players worked out in the nets with Ntini keeping an eye on his bowlers, while fitness coach Sean Bell and Whatmore focused on exercises that involved fielding during yesterday morning’s three-hour training session.

There is also a group of 10 players training in Harare under Zimbabwe A coach Douglas Hondo and these include Regis Chakabva, Tino Mutombodzi and Wellington Masakadza.

The two groups will train together in Harare for final preparations on Monday, with selectors expected to come up with the final squad to face India before the end of next week. India are bringing a strong side led by attacking right-handed middle-order batsman and wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

India’s June tour is their second visit to Zimbabwe in two years. The last time India toured was in July 2015 when they beat the hosts 3-0 in the ODI series and drew 1-1 in the T20s.

All the matches were played at Harare Sports Club and Zimbabwe will be hoping for better fortunes against the World T20 semi-finalists.

Zimbabwe practice squad
In Bulawayo: Sikandar Raza Butt, Ryan Burl, Brian Chari, Tendai Chatara, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Tendai Chisoro, Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Luke Jongwe, Timycen Maruma, Hamilton Masakadza, Peter Joseph Moor, Tapiwa Mufudza, Tawanda Mupariwa, Tarisai Musakanda, Richmond Mutumbami, Taurai Muzarabani, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Donald Tiripano, Malcolm Waller and Sean Williams.

In Harare: Regis Chakabva, Trevor Garwe, Neville Madziva, Wellington Masakadza, Shingirai Masakadza, Prince Masvaure, Natsai M’shangwe, Kudakwashe Munyede, Tinotenda Mutombodzi and Victor Nyauchi.