Uproar over Pakistan squad

02 Oct, 2020 - 00:10 0 Views
Uproar over Pakistan squad Kevin Kasuza

The ManicaPost

Ray Bande

Senior Reporter

DISCONTENT is reigning supreme over the Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC)’s recent selection of players who will do national duty in the Pakistan tour for a limited-overs series scheduled for October and November.

Zimbabwe will face Pakistan in three one-day international (ODI) matches and Twenty20 international (T20) games.

The ODI matches, which will be part of the inaugural ICC Cricket World Cup Super League, are scheduled for October 30, November 1 and November 3.

The T20 series is pencilled for November 7, 8 and 10.

This will see Zimbabwe playing for the first time since March when many countries across the world put sporting activities and international travel on hold as part of lockdown measures to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Following the Government’s nod for the tour Pakistan, Zimbabwe have since intensified their preparations for the tour, with a provisional squad of 25 players called up for a training camp that started last week in Harare.

These include Faraz Akram, Ryan Burl, Regis Chakabva, Brian Chari, Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Tendai Chisoro, Craig Ervine, Kyle Jarvis, Luke Jongwe, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe and Wesley Madhevere.

Timycen Maruma, Wellington Masakadza, Brandon Mavuta, Peter Moor, Carl Mumba, Richmond Mutumbami, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Brendan Taylor, Donald Tiripano and Sean Williams also make the line-up.

However, social media has been awash with complaints about the tour’s selection process.

ZimCeleb official wrote on Facebook: “As the sporting world emerges from its coronavirus-induced slumber, Zim Cricket announced its training squad for the Pakistan tour. Amidst the mix of youth and experience, there were a few glaring omissions. One player who excited fans in the Sri Lanka and Bangladesh matches at the beginning of the year was Kevin Kasuza. For a player who was beginning to find his song before the sporting year was interrupted, we can’t help but wonder why he has been left out of the squad.”

John Chisoma tweeted: “Can someone @ZimCrickettv explain the omission of Kevin Kasuza, Prince Masvure and Victor Nyauchi. As far as I am concerned, they have done better in recent tours.”

Tatenda Saurombe tweeted: “They selected players who never even played in recent matches and left out players who took part and did well in recent tours. You need to be connected to be selected into the squad. They do not consider statistics.”

But the ZC chairman, Tavengwa Mukuhlani, is not perturbed.

“We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister Kirsty Coventry, SRC and Government for authorising the tour,” he said.

“Needless to say, we at ZC are bursting with excitement as we look forward to playing cricket again and representing our nation with pride and passion in Pakistan.”

The Sports and Recreation Commission has emphasised the need to ensure that Covid-19 preventative and containment measures are observed at all times for the safety of both the players and officials during the tour.

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