[Match Thread] Pakistan v Zimbabwe (CWC Group A)

[Conant]

Masakadza is too expensive for international cricket. When we are defending a low score you can't have him bowling away any chance we have at victory.

What are the options, Eugene?

Except on a bad day this should never happen in the first place. Batsmen are supposed to set you a competitive total, which brings bowlers into the game. Masakadza’s job is to take wickets. A strike rate of 28 in ODIs http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe/co ... 43529.html suggest he does that very well.

In any case that economy rate is exaggerated those matches in SA there were three totals of 330+. Eventually that economy rate is going come down to about 5-5.5

[eugene]

We don't have any other options.

[jimbo]

Masacadza looked like getting wickets yesterday and he swung the ball extragavently and got good bounce, Compare that to payangara who went for more runs than mazzie and looked military medium. Masacadza's problem yesterday was when he tried to bounce out the pakistan batsmen and got hooked by them instead of putting the ball in the zone and getting swing which he did exeptionally well in the first over.
i like the guy personally, he looks a different sort of Zimbabwe bowler in that he is strong and muscular rather than a tall gangly bowler like mpofu. I hope he plays against Kenya and I hope he does well.

[eugene]

I'm seeing slot of hate for campbell these days that I don't get....

Conant. I really dint think it's alis fault that chigumbura decided yo bat first.

Campbell is only a selector

It is Ali's fault that Masakadza was left behind. It is Ali's fault Coventry was taken along. It is Ali's fault a whole inexperienced team was chosen for the world cup ahead of proven track record. Poor Regis Chakabva, they are just gonna do a Kasteni on him.

Believe me Campbell holds much influence other than just team selection. You think he had no influence in that diabolical decision, and others made in this tournament? Who then? Butcher? Ah, another one who’s been absolved of blame on this forum

The dissappointing thing about watching Zimbabwe batting performance today was the commentary by our Chairman of Selectors , Mr Alaistair "Stanford" Campbell who has snivelled his way into commentary which should not be allowed by a Chairman of Selectors. During the innings he mentioned a few of the batsmen lacked technique. If that is the case why did he choose them. Our bad performance at the world cup goes back to selection and the current dismissal financial affairs in Z.C

Thank you, C.

It is Alastair Campbell's fault that any player wasn't selected for the world cup - it is his job to select some and not others. Hamilton Masakadza played himself out of the world cup. Regis Chakabva's selection was backed by him playing decently in Bangladesh. The Coventry experiment was always a big risk. Coventry clearly has talent but it seems nigh on impossible to harness it. Campbell is hardly the dark overlord of Zimbabwean cricket - he is only the chairman of selectors. Do you guys have some unresolved issues with Alastair from the past? I understand criticism but you guys seem to have something more you dislike about him.

[ZIMDOGGY]

That's what I'm feeling too.

Is thus a case of some emotional fans looking for a scapegoat??
Or is there something there that we dont know about or not telling us?


I don't mind Ali as a commentator, because we get an insight into the team and we get to see what he's thinking ,

Does Ali or butcher decide starting 11?

[CrimsonAvenger]

1. Ryan Butterworth gets selected in the 15 man squad for the tour of Bangladesh, and doesn't get to play, and weeks later, he is not even in the 30 man probables list for the CWC.

2. Hamilton Masakadza gets dropped, and even if that can be accepted as lack of form leading to that decision, how can one explain Mawoyo, Duffin and Sibanda getting selected ahead of Masakada as replacements? Is he that bad?

3. Mawoyo gets picked, gets injured, is sent back, and plays and scores heavy runs for mountaineers the week after, as Zim struggle with no proper opening pair at the CWC.

4. Coventry, discarded after the SA series, comes back without doing anything significant in the domestic circuit, and is slotted in as the opener for CWC matches - huge gamble. Wouldn't it have been better sticking with Masakadza or Chibhabha?

5. Press statements make it clear that Duffin might not get a game after he replaces Mawoyo. Why have him in the squad then? Why not, say, Dabengwa?

6. Panyangara, a late replacement, gets a game before Shingi, who was originally in the squad.

There has to be a role of Ali and his team in most of these decisions. They must be answerable.

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

That's what I'm feeling too.

Is thus a case of some emotional fans looking for a scapegoat??
Or is there something there that we dont know about or not telling us?


I don't mind Ali as a commentator, because we get an insight into the team and we get to see what he's thinking ,
.
Does Ali or butcher decide starting 11?

A few things were mindboggling like Hamilton's exclusion other than that i will give benefit of doubt to Campbell. H e is instrumental in the current return of explayers and clearly the best person for chairman of selectors post. With Chopper, his intent was an explosive p'ship and he did mentioned it's a huge gamble. The intent was right but the problem was with execution.
My full vote to Kamba

[Conant]

That is just the thing, you see. That we owe a great deal to this guy, as somebody mentioned in a previous post, is true. His influence in the length and breath has been instrumental to Zimbabwe cricket, it getting back to its feet.

But surely that cannot mean he has carte blanche to make bad decisions, like the ones he's made at, and leadind to, this world cup? He must answer, and while at it get back to basics.

[eugene]

I have no problem with you guys criticising his decisions - I don't agree with everything he has done either. But for some to suggest he is only in it for his own self-interest or for money is unfair.

[sloandog]

I have no problem with you guys criticising his decisions - I don't agree with everything he has done either. But for some to suggest he is only in it for his own self-interest or for money is unfair.

Look at it this way....the team management and back room staff is as strong as it's ever going to get...put up and shut up