OPENER Tinashe Kamunhukamwe has bounced back into the national fold after a two-year absence due to mixed form.
Kamunhukamwe was included in the 16-men squad that will play in five Twenty20 Internationals against Namibia in Windhoek starting on Tuesday.
The Takashinga Patriots 1 right-hander had a stellar club cricket season in addition to decent figures for his franchise side, the Eagles.
His highlight of the season has to be his double hundred against Wadzanai Cricket Club in a National Premier League play-off match that was played in Bindura three months ago.
The 28-year-old big-hitting batsman seems to be enjoying his cricket again and was part of the Takashinga 1 team that won the 45 overs NPL crown on the final day of the competition having trailed Gladiators Cricket Club for the greater part of the tournament.
Kamunhukamwe is a child prodigy who was tipped for greatness, but fell by the wayside despite his obvious talent.
He has been in and out of the national team since his international debut against Pakistan, in July 2018.
With the Highfield-based Takashinga having made a clean sweep on the domestic front, there is a buzz in the camp and players like Kamunhukamwe seem to have rediscovered their mojo and are hungry to score runs again.
Kamunhukamwe, who last played for Zimbabwe against Bangladesh in 2021, was elated and thanked the selectors.
“I would like to thank the selectors for having faith in me again. It's always an honour to play for my country and I want to make this opportunity count,” a man of few words, Kamunhukamwe told Standard Sport.
When asked if he thought he would ever play for Zimbabwe again: “I have kept the faith and knew if I keep working hard another opportunity would come, it is here and I want to be part of the team that will help Zimbabwe qualify for the T20 World Cup,” he said.
Kamunhukamwe will have to fight out for the opening slot with fellow Takashinga opener, Innocent Kaia, and new boy Nick Welch who was also included in the traveling party.
His string of impressive performances for Takashinga Patriots in the NPL puts him in good stead, but will now have to make the big jump against Namibia as he looks ahead to adding more caps to his eight T20I matches.
The five-match series is part of Zimbabwe's acclimatisation efforts before they tour the shores of Namibia again next month for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier 2023.
International cricket is very unforgiving, with a place at the 2024 ICC T20 Men's World Cup on the line, Kamunhukamwe has to take this opportunity with both hands.
Zimbabwe and Namibia will face off in Windhoek on October 24, 25, 27, 29 and 30.
Zimbabwe and Namibia will battle it out with Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, for the two tickets to the global showpiece which will be hosted by the West Indies and the USA next year.
Chevrons head coach, Dave Houghton wants his side to make a statement of intent.
“Firstly, this is the first time we have played together as a team since the 50-over World Cup qualifiers and we need to get our winning methods back on track. "Secondly, no one in the squad has experienced Namibian conditions, or how the wickets play, so this will give us that insight, prior to the T20 qualifiers in November,” Houghton said in a statement released by ZC.
“Obviously as the only ICC full member, we will quite rightly be the favourites. My message is very clear to our team: we will go to win every game and qualification will take care of itself. It’s important that we not only win but totally dominate in the region. There can be no complacency.”
Zimbabwe T20I Squad for Namibia:
Akram Faraz, Burl Ryan, Chatara Tendai, Ervine Craig, Jongwe Luke, Kaia Innocent, Kamunhukamwe Tinashe, Madande Clive, Madhevere Wessly, Masakadza Wellington, Mayavo Nyasha, Mumba Carl, Ngarava Richard, Raza Sikandar, Welch Nick, Williams Sean.