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Stephen Mangongo

THE Zimbabwe Cricket board has appointed former Zimbabwe coach Stephen Mangongo to take charge of the national Under-19 side. Mangongo’s immediate task is to work with the provisional Under-19 squad in preparation for the International Cricket Council Under-19 Cricket World Cup, which will be in Bangladesh from January 22 to February 13 next year.

He takes over from interim coach Walter Chawaguta, who has been appointed to the national selection panel together with David Mutendera. Both Chawaguta and Mutendera are not newcomers to the panel. Chawaguta, a former Zimbabwe coach, was national selector in 2004 and Mutendera, a former Zimbabwe international, who earlier on in his career had been one of the first students at the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy, sat on the panel five years ago.

Chawaguta and Mutendera join national coach Davenell Whatmore and captain Elton Chigumbura on the national selection panel that is chaired by convener Kenyon Ziehl. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Cricket have joined the international community in mourning the late president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Jagmohan Dalmiya.

Dalmiya passed away on Sunday evening, three days after being admitted into hospital complaining of chest pain. In his message of condolence, ZC chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani said that his board, life presidents and life vice-presidents, the franchises and provincial associations, management, players and other staff all extended their heartfelt condolences on the passing away of Dalmiya.

“When we heard that he had been admitted to hospital on Thursday we all expected that he would recover and get back to running the game that had become an essential part of his life. Alas, it was not to be. “Zimbabwe Cricket benefited immensely from the support and guidance it received from Mr Dalmiya as your president and also during his tenure as the International Cricket Council president,” said Mukuhlani in the message to the BCCI secretary, Anurag Thakur.

Describing Dalmiya as having been “a leading cricket administrator and an astute businessman,” Mukuhlani added that he had the rare ability of mixing with both the high and mighty and the common man. The ZC chairman bemoaned the passing away of Dalmiya, saying the cricket world had lost “a veritable fountain of knowledge”.

l The Zimbabwe national team continued with their preparations for the upcoming tour of Pakistan when they played their last practice match at the Harare Sports Club yesterday. Convener of selectors Kenyon Ziehl said the Zimbabwe camp is happy with the progress. “I believe we’ve done thorough mental and practical preparations and what’s now left is for the guys to perform.

“Thankfully, we don’t have any injury problems and hopefully the situation remains like that,” said Ziehl. Pakistan are expected to arrive tomorrow. They will play two Twenty20 matches and three One Day Internationals starting this Sunday. — Zimcricket/Sports Reporter