Sports Reporter
THE national selection panel were yesterday set to reduce the Zimbabwe A practice squad to 15 to prepare for their first four-day match against South Africa A.
South Africa A are expected to arrive tomorrow for the four-day match that begins at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
Zimbabwe A coach Douglas Hondo had been working with a squad of 22 players for the past fortnight, focusing on various aspects of the game. They spent a lot of time in the nets and doing fielding drills.
They also broke into groups to concentrate on specialist skills, with assistant coach and former Matabeleland and Zimbabwe wicket-keeper Wayne James working with glovesmen Regis Chakabva, Joylord Gumbie, Tarisai Musakanda and Forster Mutizwa.
After the Harare match, the two sides will meet in another four-dayer at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo from July 15.
The Zimbabwe A squad is a mixture of experienced players such as Tinotenda Mawoyo, Chakabva, Timycen Maruma, Shingirai Masakadza and Brian Vitori as well as up-and-coming players such as 20-year-olds Gumbie and Musakanda, and Victor Nyauchi, who recently turned 23.
Proteas’ new Test opener Stephen Cook leads the 15-man South Africa A squad, which includes other Test players such as Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Stiaan van Zyl and Dane Vilas.
Zimbabwe A Practice Squad:
Gerald Aliseni, Regis Chakabva, Brian Chari, Tatenda Chikuni, Michael Chinouya, Trevor Garwe, Joylord Gumbie, Luke Jongwe, Roy Kaia, Timycen Maruma, Shingirai Masakadza, Prince Masvaure, Tinotenda Mawoyo, Tatenda Mupunga, Tarisai Musakanda, Natsai M’shangwe, Forster Mutizwa, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Richard Muzhange, Victor Nyauchi, John Nyumbu and Brian Vitori.
South Africa A Touring Squad
Stephen Cook (captain), Qaasim Adams, Theunis de Bruyn, Heino Kuhn, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj, Duanne Olivier, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Dwaine Pretorius, Omphile Ramela, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas and Hardus Viljoen.