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Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
TUSKERS have named a team that left Bulawayo for Harare yesterday ahead of their opening match of the 2021/22 Logan Cup four-day cricket competition against Southern Rocks at Old Hararians (OH) today.

Ainsley Ndlovu

The 14-member squad will, however, be missing seasoned campaigner and captain Brian Chari due to injury. Chari will only miss the first match and is expected to be around for the second clash of the campaign when Tuskers face Rhinos at OH. Tuskers are the Logan Cup defending champions.

In his absence, white ball captain and all-rounder Ainsley Ndlovu will lead the Bulawayo based team in the first match of their title defence. Having missed some of their players due to national duty in the recently ended Pro50 Championship, Tuskers will be hoping their full strength side will be able to defend the title.

Tuskers’ general manager, Nicholas Singo said Chari missing the first match of their title defence will be a big blow for the team but is confident that the players in the team have what it takes to compete in the country’s premier first class cricket competition.

“It’s a big blow, we will miss our captain and one of our senior players. However, we believe we have enough depth to play at this level,” said Singo.

Brian Chari

The players who will join the squad for the Logan Cup from their involvement in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia to beef up Tuskers are Sean Williams, Milton Shumba, wicketkeeper Clive Madande and all-rounder Luke Jongwe.

Tuskers, however, suffered another blow prior to the commencement of the Logan Cup with the loss of Chevrons white ball captain Craig Ervine who has joined Harare based Eagles. Ervine was part of the Tuskers team that won the previous edition of the Logan Cup but asked to leave Tuskers so that he can be close to his family in Harare having been blessed with a daughter last year.

Sean Williams

Tuskers’ second match of the season will be against Rhinos at OH again from December 10-13 and will play their last encounter before the Christmas break on December 17-20 against old rivals, Eagles who are sitting on top of the log standings after a big win against Southern Rocks.

Tuskers Logan Cup squad: Tanunurwa Makoni, Nkosana Mpofu, Tafara Mupariwa, Sean Williams, Milton Shumba, Clive Madande, Luke Jongwe, Ainsley Ndlovu (captain), Jordan Morris, Prince Kaunda, Charlton Tshuma, Sheunopa Musekwa, Alvin Chiradza, Tanatswa Bechani
– @brandon_malvin