The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE on Tuesday named an experienced squad for the International Cricket Council Women’s Qualifier Africa 2019, which gets underway in Harare on Sunday.
Led by all rounder Mary-Anne Musonda, the Lady Chevrons squad of 14 includes her predecessor Chipo Tiripano as well as the seasoned Precious Marange.
Another former captain, Sharne Mayers, who missed Zimbabwe’s tour of Uganda for a triangular series early in April, that also included Kenya, has made the cut at the expense of Christabel Chatonzwa.
Right-arm seamer Chiedza Mzembe, who picked up two wickets on her international debut against Namibia in January, is at 17 the youngest in the home side’s squad.
Zimbabwe, coached by Adam Chifo have won all of the nine Twenty-20 international matches that they have played this year, will go into the ICC Women’s Qualifier Africa 2019 carrying the favourites tag.
Their biggest challenge is likely to come from Uganda who toppled Zimbabwe for the first time to win the last regional qualifier tournament in Windhoek, Namibia, in September 2017.
The ICC Women’s Qualifier Africa 2019, a nine-team event, is a Twenty-20 competition that is serving not only as part of the pathway for next year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to be held in Australia, but will also help settle the participants in the next 50-over ICC Women’s World Cup to be staged in New Zealand in 2021.
Zimbabwe are in Group A together with Tanzania, Nigeria, Mozambique and Rwanda, while Uganda, Kenya, Namibia and Sierra Leone make up Group B.
Old Hararians Sports Club and Takashinga Cricket Club are the venues for the group matches, with the final to be played at Harare Sports Club on 12 May.
Zimbabwe squad : Mary-Anne Musonda (captain), Ashley Ndiraya, Chipo Tiripano, Precious Marange, Anesu Mushangwe, Nomvelo Sibanda, Sharne Mayers, Loryn Phiri, Josephine Nkomo, Chiedza Mzembe, Chiedza Dhururu, Nomatter Mutasa, Tasmeen Granger, Modester Mupachikwa
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