The Zimbabwe national cricket team is confident of a successful tour of Australia for the International Cricket Council T20 World Cup starting on October 17.
Zimbabwe left the country yesterday with 15 players as well as the technical team led by coach Dave Houghton.
The team was seen off at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) officials including board vice-chairman Sylvester Machaka as well as managing director Givemore Makoni.
Captain Craig Ervine expressed confidence that the team had done enough preparations for the World Cup campaign.
“I would like to thank ZC for all the support in the last few months leading up to the qualifiers and now the World Cup. All the preparations leading up to the World Cup have been good,” he said.
“I am confident that we will do the nation proud at this tournament and I am proud with the way the guys played over the last few months. I have no doubt that as we go across to Australia we will do well.”
Ervine makes a return to the team after missing the home series against India as well as the tour to Australia.
Machaka said he was confident that the team will do well in Australia because they have the talent.
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“Other countries have more players, they have bigger pools to choose their teams from. But here we have a small pool. However, from that small pool we have a lot of talent. And because of that talent we have I am sure you will succeed in Australia. I would be very surprised if you do not succeed,” Machaka said.
The team left without Lance Klusener who stepped down as batting coach for the national team to pursue other interests in the game.
It was the South African’s second spell as batting coach. New bowling coach Steve Kirby travelled with the team having joined last week.
The main seamers Blessing Muzarabani and Tendai Chatara, who were injured in the T20 World Cup qualifiers, have also made a timely return to lead the attack.
Zimbabwe (11) are ranked higher than two of their first round group opponents — Ireland (12) and Scotland (15) — with the West Indies (7) the only team they will face in the opening round with a higher team ranking. As such, Zimbabwe can be expected to finish in the top two of their group and at the very least qualify for the Super 12 stage.
Squad:
Craig Ervine (captain), Ryan Burl, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Bradley Evans, Luke Jongwe, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Sean Williams.
Standby Players: Tanaka Chivanga, Innocent Kaia, Kevin Kasuza, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Victor Nyauchi
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