The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
SEASONED batsman Hamilton Masakadza has been appointed as Zimbabwe senior national cricket team captain for all three formats of the game.
The Zimbabwe Cricket board met in Harare today to unveil the 32-year Masakadza as the new national team captain with leg spinner Graeme Cremer appointed as his deputy. Brendan Taylor, who quit international cricket to take up a Kolpak contract with English county side Nottinghamshire last year was the Test captain while Elton Chigumbura who stepped down from his post last week at the conclusion of a four match Twenty20 International series against Bangladesh was the limited overs skipper.
Masakadza was together with another veteran Vusumuzi Sibanda in October last year axed from the national team for the home tours against Ireland and Afghanistan due to poor form.
Masakadza was to be recalled to the national side for the five One Day Internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals against Afghanistan in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates at the end of last year.
The right handed Masakadza repaid the faith shown in him by the selectors with a dazzling display with the bat in the four T20Is against Bangladesh where he scored 222 runs to ensure Zimbabwe came from 2-0 down to end the series 2-2.
Masakadza is expected to lead the national cricket team at the International Cricket Council World Twenty20 in India which is scheduled from 8 March to 3 April where Zimbabwe have to first play in the qualifiers against Hong Kong, Afghanistan and Scotland in the preliminary stage for a place in Super 10 round of the competition.
