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Brandon Moyo, [email protected]

LAST year, cricket legend and former Chevrons coach, Dave Houghton, bid the team farewell and stressed the need for a fresh perspective in their approach to the game, leading to the appointment of South African coach, Justin Sammons this week.

While Sammons is regarded as a skilled coach, the journey ahead is expected to be difficult. Working alongside former Chevrons player Dion Ebrahim as his assistant, Sammons will be filling the remaining coaching vacancies.

Although Sammons may not be known to many, he has an impressive resume and is recognised for his expertise in developing young talent in South Africa.

Recently appointed as head coach, he also served as the Proteas’ batting coach as well as a specialist consultant during the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

His experience also spans several franchises, including the Jozi Stars in the Mzansi Super League and the DP World Lions in South Africa’s premier First-Class circuit.

With a focus on developing talent and an eye on upcoming tournaments, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has begun strategising for the 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2027 Cricket World Cup, heralding a new era for Zimbabwean cricket.

Though it may take time to see significant changes, Sammons’ appointment is seen as a step forward for the team.

As a developmental coach, Sammons has excelled and is particularly noted for his contributions to South Africa’s high-performance programme. With Zimbabwe’s focus on nurturing young talent, Sammons’ extensive knowledge in cultivating youthful teams positions him as the ideal leader for this new era.

Tavengwa Mukuhlani, the ZC chairperson, recognised Sammons’ keen eye for development.

“He brings a wealth of coaching experience and a reputation for identifying, nurturing and developing some of the best young talent in South Africa. His hard-working and passionate approach as well as sense of values on and off the pitch make him the ideal person to take us forward,” said Mukuhlani in a statement.

In their first assignment, Sammons and Ebrahim will lead the team against India in a five-match T20I series in Harare. The matches are scheduled to begin on July 6, with India being the dominant side in their previous encounters.

The Chevrons will need to improve their game to contend with India’s unparalleled skill.

Zimbabwe has missed out on three out of the last four World Cups, so Sammons has the task of ensuring they qualify for the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup.

Although the chances of a miraculous change of fortune against India are slim, Zimbabwean cricket fans hope to see improvements under his guidance.

India and Zimbabwe have faced each other eight times in 20-over cricket with India winning six of those matches. Zimbabwe has only managed two wins.

The Chevrons will return to the regional qualifiers for the 2026 tournament after the United States of America’s (USA) stellar performance in the ongoing tournament which saw them book a spot in the Super Eight.

The ICC has confirmed the 12 teams that have automatic tickets to India and Sri Lanka for the 2026 edition. Co-hosts India and Sri Lanka qualify automatically, while Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa and the West Indies qualify by reaching the Super Eight of the ongoing edition.

New Zealand, Pakistan and Ireland qualified automatically due to their T20I rankings. Following Zimbabwe’s dismal performances in the past, Ireland leapfrogged them to 11th on the ICC rankings and Sammons will now have another task of leading the team to the next tournament. – @brandon_malvin