The Sunday News
Senior Sports Reporter
FAST bowler Tendai Chatara has made full recovery from injury to be selected into the Zimbabwean squad for next month’s International Cricket Council World Twenty20 set for India. Chatara picked up a leg injury while playing social soccer in his home town of Mutare in April last year. He has recuperated now after turning out for Mountaineers in the Domestic Twenty20 Competition which ended in Bulawayo yesterday. According to national team convener of selectors Kenyol Ziehl, Chatara together with another pace bowler Tinashe Panyangara remain an injury concern which has seen Donald Tiripano being chosen as the 16th member of the squad.
Ziehl explained yesterday after announcing the squad that pace bowler Tiripano and top order batsman Chamunorwa Chibhabha will travel with the team to the United Arab Emirates on Friday for warm up matches. Chibhabha and Tiripano will return home if there are no more injury worries.
Former Zimbabwe limited overs captain Elton Chigumbura made the team despite his struggles in the international game. Ziehl said that they were backing Chigumbura to do well at the tournament in India because of his history in the shortest format of the game.
“Elton is a wonderful cricketer with a wonderful record. He adds balance to the team, his history and experience, in a tournament like this one, we are backing him to come through,’’ said Ziehl.
Questions will be asked how Matabeleland Tuskers opening batsman Brian Chari missed out on selection after compiling 259 runs in seven visits to the crease during the franchise competition, second in the run scoring charts to national team captain Hamilton Masakadza who blasted 458 runs from the same number of innings.
Coach Davenell Whatmore was overly excited by the return of Chatara and Panyangara to the bowling attack.
“That is the 16 we can get, I am pleased to welcome Chatara and Panyangara, we have missed Chatara, he was our best bowler before he got injured,’’ Whatmore said.
Zimbabwe play against Hong Kong, Scotland and Afghanistan in the first round with a first place finish enough to see them progress to the Super 10.
Zimbabwe squad for ICC World Twenty20 in India
Hamilton Masakadza (captain), Graeme Cremer (vice captain), Vusumuzi Sibanda, Richmond Mutumbami (wicketkeeper), Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Tendai Chisoro, Tinashe Panyangara, Tendai Chatara, Peter Moor, Luke Jongwe, Neville Madziva, Wellington Masakadza, Donald Tiripano.
