ZIMBABWE captain for the three-match One Day International series against Ireland, Sikandar Raza, says his charges are motivated to paste smiles on the fans who have been frowning in recent times.
The Chevrons eye a soul-lifting victory in the series opener this morning at Harare Sports Club as they plot a winning comeback.
Ireland are bubbling with confidence after taking the T20 series 2-1.
The Chevrons head into series without the injured captain Craig Ervine and all-rounder Sean Williams.
Raza, set to lead the side in the ODIs in the absence of Ervine, said they are hungry for success.
"The team has been bullish and hungry. Every little chat we have had as a team was very positive. Unfortunately as you know some of the senior guys will be missing for one reason or the other," Raza told reporters yesterday.
Keep Reading
- It’s all about hard and smart work, says in form Raza
- ZC hits out at ‘deceitful, greedy’ Taylor
- ERVINE POSITIVE DESPITE POOR END TO SRI LANKA TOUR
- It’s all about hard and smart work, says in form Raza
"It gives a lot of opportunities to the young guys and some of them actually stood their ground quite nicely and you could tell that this one is the future that we can invest in and things like that."
Meanwhile, national team selectors announced a completely different squad from the side that played in the unsuccessful 50 overs World Cup Qualifiers in June bringing in over a dozen new faces.
The new inclusions are Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Tanaka Chivanga, Faraz Akram, Brandon Mavuta, Milton Shumba and Tony Munyonga, while seamer, Tendai Chatara, all-rounder, Wessly Madhevere and opener, Tadiwanashe Marumani were sidelined.
"The young guys, the squad and the board are very hungry to try and grow the squad because we really want to put [back] the smiles on our people's faces.
"We really want to give them the happiness they deserve and try to put all those disappointments behind us and the only way we can do that is by winning the series," added Raza.
The remaining two ODIs are pencilled for Friday and Sunday.
Zimbabwe squad for Ireland ODI series
Sikandar Raza (captain), Faraz Akram, Ryan Burl, Tanaka Chivanga, Joylord Gumbie, Luke Jongwe, Innocent Kaia, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Clive Madande, Wellington Masakadza, Brandon Mavuta, Tony Munyonga, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Milton Shumba.