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Zimbabwe tours to India and Namibia

Zimbabwe opt for consistency

Cricinfo staff

March 6, 2009

Zimbabwe's selectors have kept faith in the squad that played in Bangladesh and Kenya at the beginning of the year for the President's XI trip to India.

Zimbabwe have been invited by the Indian board to take part in the Deodhar Trophy, a regional one-day tournament which starts on March 13. They were scheduled to head to Sri Lanka afterwards, but this was postponed because of issues with the host broadcasters.

The team turned in some much-improved performances in Bangladesh before whitewashing Kenya 5-0 in Nairobi, and that persuaded the selectors to name the unchanged squad.

The side will play the first of two Group B matches on March 14 against South Zone and two days later will meet West Zone. The final is set for March 18.

The selectors also named the team for the Namibia tour where an A team will play the Namibia national side to help them prepare for the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in April.

Zimbabwe President's squad to India: Prosper Utseya (capt), Hamilton Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu, Ray Price, Sean Williams, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Vusi Sibanda, Elton Chigumbura, Keith Dabengwa, Forster Mutizwa, Malcolm Waller, Graeme Cremer,
Ed Rainford, Chris Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa.

Zimbabwe A squad to Namibia: Regis Chakabva (capt), Eric Chauluka, Cephas Zhuwawo, Mark Vermeulen, Charles Coventry, Mbekezeli Mabuza, Timycen Maruma, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Shingi Masakadza, Trevor Garwe, Tendai Chisoro, Bothwell Chapungu, Admire Manyumwa, Natsai Mushangwe.

© Cricinfo

Although ZC chairman Peter Chingoka was only expected to sign off the squad this morning as is the norm, IndependentSport established that following a marathon meeting yesterday, the selectors decided to go with an unchanged team for the “purpose of consistence,” indicating that the selectors are seriously searching for a core side ahead of re-admission into the Test arena.