Here is Zimbabwe's 15 man squad for tour of W.Indies

[asif]

Asif Ali....................From Pakistan

HARARE: Zimbabwe have included two uncapped players in their 15-man squad for the upcoming tour of West Indies.

The new members are batsman Greg Lamb and all-rounder Shingirai Masakadza, the younger brother of vice captain Hamilton Masakadza.

The 28-year-old Lamb, who spent five years at English county Hampshire, has been in outstanding form in Zimbabwe’s domestic league since his return to his country of birth.

The younger Masakadza brother enjoyed a stint with one of Zimbabwe’s topflight football clubs before committing his future to cricket.

Off-spinner Prosper Utseya was named as captain of the touring squad, which also included former skipper Tatenda Taibu.

The rebuilding Zimbabwe side will play one Twenty20 international and five one-day matches against West Indies ahead of the ICC World Twenty20, which begins in late April.

Zimbabwe Cricket has recently attracted back exiled former internationals to take part in the country’s rejuvenated domestic competitions in a bid to regain its test status. Many of those former stars are still restricted by contracts with teams overseas.

Players who have returned but are not yet available for the national side include Hampshire all-rounder Sean Ervine, who played five tests and 42 ODI’s for Zimbabwe before leaving the country in 2004. Anthony Ireland of Gloucestershire has also returned.

As well as revamping its domestic one-day game, the country launched a six-team national Twenty20 competition on Wednesday which will feature former Australian all-rounder Ian Harvey and former England fast bowler Chris Silverwood as player coaches.

English county players Darren Stevens of Kent and Sussex spinner Ollie Rayner have also been recruited while Kenyan internationals Steve Tikolo and Thomas Odoyo both already play in Zimbabwe.

Squad: Prosper Utseya (c), Brendan Taylor, Tatenda Taibu, Hamilton Masakadza (v/c), Ray Price, Graeme Cremer, Charles Coventry, Vusi Sibanda, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Greg Lamb, Elton Chigumbura, Shingirai Masakadza, Timycen Maruma, Chris Mpofu, Kyle Jarvis.

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/daw ... tour-ha-07


Best of Luck Zimbabwe

[asif]

Asif Ali...... From Pakistan.

What's wrog with Selection Comittie? Where are the big names like Sean William, Rainsford, Mupariwa and the former players like Blignaut, Ervine, Dion Ebrahim & Doug Marilliar.

The biggest surprise is that still no changing in captaincy of the team that's big blunder to go with utseya as a captain after alot wrong decisions, selection of playing elevens and use of players. I am really disappointed on the selection of the team and captaincy.

Now just wait and pray for better cricket and captiancy.

Best of luck Zimbabwe!

[jamthala]

At last maruma back in squad.he bowl always without fear like kumble which i like.
Lamb also in team at last,he is a good allrounder.
S Masakadza is good opening bowler.
Mupariwa should be in team,tough luck for him.
Vermulean exclusion i understand.

As utseya and company start there journey with paniyangara.but so said no paniyangara no where.

[zimfan1]

Asif, Blignaut and Ervine have not made themselves available for national team selection whilst Marriler has had no cricket and to be honest im would be surprised if he has made himself avalable.

Im happy with the squad as we have got rid of Vermulen and Chibbabha who performed woefully on the Bangladesh tour, and replaced them with the Bradman of the highfields in Sibanda and have an experianced all rounder in Greg Lamb who will give us more options with the ball.

I think the omission of Mutizwa is a bit harsh though and i question the inclusion of 4 spinners on a tour to the west indies???
But we have to be fair to Shringai Masakadza and say he is there on merit.

My first choice eleven would be

1. Hamilton Masakadza
2. Vusi Sibanda
3. Brendan Taylor
4. Tatenda Taibu (WK)
5. Stuart Matsikenyeri/Charles Coventry
6. Greg Lamb
7. Elton Chigumbura
8. Prosper Utseya
9. Shringai Masakadza
10. Ray Price
11. Kyle Jarvis

[CrimsonAvenger]

Mutizwa's was indeed a harsh decision, and I am hoping that Williams' exclusion is only due to his non availability because of the latest injury. Another player who would have felt hard done by would be Keegan Meth.

I agree with zimfan1's playing 11, Matsi might get a go ahead of Coventry, and probably rightly so, on current form.

[Conant]

No players from Matabeleland? I sense a conspiracy. But seriously, no Sean Williams? Or Foster Mtizwa, the third leading run scorer in the Logan Cup? This is puzzling. Andy why four spinners, as if three was never enough? There is no courage in these selectors to make hard but correct decisions

[zimfan1]

I imagine the Sean Williams exclusion is down to the fact that he simply has not played enough cricket and therfore has unable to build up any form. We are only taking 7 batsman which is one to light in my opinion. One interesting thing to note is there are no left handers in the squad.

But if we compare this side to the one which toured Bangladesh, in my own opinion this side is stronger.

There are Tuskers there in Coventry and Mpofu.

[jimbo]

Its my view that the selectors have dropped a clanger in not including ed rainsford in the squad, he is the one zimbabwe paceman who could have really roughed up gayle and co as he did to a certain extent on the last tour to the west indies circa 2006

[jamthala]

Mupariva is best fast bowler which zim have today.

[shumbat]

we could have done with a more experienced seamer than Shingi, Mpariwa is in good form, as well as Ebrahim could have been in Coventry's place to provide stability as our batting tends to collapse a lot. All the batsman can play around Ebrahim as he just stays at the crease, there is still opportunity to change the team.