Mehluli Sibanda in Harare
ZIMBABWE have been dealt a massive blow ahead of the first Twenty20 International cricket contest against India with opener Brian Chari ruled out by a right knee injury. Chari, brought into the squad for the shortest format of the game hurt his knee while fielding during practice on Wednesday and is unable to play this afternoon with indications that will be available for the second match on Monday. This is a further dent to Zimbabwe’s batting that is already minus left hander Sean Williams who was dropped from the squad over what is believed to be his lack of commitment to the national cause. Chari, a clean hitting opening batsman was expected to bring some momentum into the team’s batting line up.
The 24-year old Matabeleland Tuskers batsman was certain to open the Zimbabwean innings in his T20I debut with either Hamilton Masakadza or Chamunorwa Chibhabha. Indications are that Chari is going to be available for the last two T20Is.
Captain Graeme Cremer disclosed that they will give Chari enough time to recover seeing that there is the two Tests against New Zealand coming up in Bulawayo at the end of next month where he is expected to play a big part.
After a disastrous showing in the ODIs, Zimbabwe head into the first T20Is eager to put up a much improved display. What gives the home team the renewed strength is the fact that the last time the two teams met at the same venue last year in this format of the game, Zimbabwe walked away victorious by 10 runs. Cremer reminisced about how the fans turned out on that day and enjoyed the win, something they want to give the supporters who waved placards to protest against the shambolic display in the ODIs.
Cremer yesterday put it across that they know they can be a deadly side in the shorter version of the game and if the opposition get off to a slow start, they will not give them an opportunity to recover.
“We probably know we’re a more a dangerous T20 side because if the opposition starts badly or has a bad patch in the game they won’t have time to catch up, so we know from the last T20 we played against India we beat them we know it’s not impossible we’re just looking to start well whatever we do batting or bowling tomorrow (today),’’ said Cremer.
Zimbabwe interim coach Makhaya Ntini now has to count on the batting exploits of Masakadza, Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Malcolm Waller, Vusumuzi Sibanda, Timycen Maruma, Richmond Mutumbami, Peter Moor, Tinotenda Mutombodzi and Sikandar Raza.
Waller is the key batsman in this format of the game for the home team, with a brilliant strike rate of 144 percent. Chigumbura on a good day is also capable of taking the opposition bowlers to the cleaners but he has to overcome being dismissed for first ball ducks in the last two ODIs in order to put up a polished display with the bat.
The Zimbabwean bowlers never got any decent total to defend during the ODIs and they will be hoping for a change. Tendai Chatara is highly expected to lead the bowling attack with the aid of Neville Madziva, Donald Tiripano and Taurai Muzarabani.
A number of slow bowlers are in the team and how many get to play this afternoon will be determined by the pitch being used. Skipper Cremer and Mutombodzi bowl leg spin, Tapiwa Mufudza has been included as an off spinner while Wellington Masakadza is in the side for his left arm orthodox.
The Indians, having not been made to work hard to achieve a whitewash in the ODIs should head into the T20Is with the same players who won the 50 over contest. Indian head coach for this tour Sanjay Bangar disclosed that while the intention is to give every player who came on the tour an opportunity he cannot make too many changes from the team which clinched the ODI series. He expressed his happiness as to how his fast bowlers have performed, the pressure maintained by the slow bowlers on wickets that have not really assisted spin bowlers and the consistency put on display by the batsmen.
With the fast paced nature of the T20 game, fans are most likely going to finally catch a glimpse of Indian captain Mahendra Singh walking out to bat for the first time as he never batted in the ODIs.
Leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and fast bowler Dhawal Kulkarni were some of the leading wicket takers in the Indian Premier League with the two expected to carry their form to the international level.
Squads
Zimbabwe: Graeme Cremer (captain), Sikandar Raza, Brian Chari, Tendai Chatara, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Neville Madziva, Timycen Maruma, Hamilton Masakadza, Wellington Masakadza, Peter Moor, Tapiwa Mufudza, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Richmond Mutumbami (wicketkeeper), Taurai Muzarabani, Vusumuzi Sibanda, Donald Tiripano, Malcolm Waller.
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain/wicketkeeper), Lokesh Rahul, Faiz Fazal, Manish Pandey, Karun Nair, Ambati Rayudu, Rishi Dhawan, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jasprit Bumrah, Barinder Sran, Mandeep Singh, Kedar Jadhav, Jaydev Unadkat, Yuzvendra Chahal.