Ryan Burl
Bongani Ndlovu, Sports Correspondent
FORMER Zimbabwe Under-19 all rounder Ryan Burl’s dream of playing against India in the forthcoming ODI and T20 series has been shattered by a knee injury suffered at yesterday’s training session at Queens Sport Club in Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe will play powerhouse India in three ODIs and three T20 Internationals 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.
The 22-year-old Marondera-born left-handed batsman and spinner was injured at the venue where he made his Chevrons’ debut against Pakistan in 2015.
According to witnesses, Burl was rushed to Mater Dei Hospital where doctors attended to him and put his left knee into a plaster. It could not be established yesterday how long he will be out of action.
“They were playing touch rugby as it was fitness training for them. It seems he twisted his knee while running with the ball and everyone gathered around him as the medics attended to his knee before an ambulance was called to take him to hospital,” said a witness.
Efforts to get an update from Zimbabwe Cricket spokesman Lovemore Banda, who also accompanied Burl to hospital, were fruitless as he was not taking any calls.
Burl’s injury adds a headache to the new coaching staff of interim head coach Makhaya Ntini and batting coach Lance Klusener as well as newly appointed convener of selectors and former Chevrons’ captain Tatenda Taibu, as their options were already narrowed by Zimbabwe’s batting limitations.