ZC Calls Up 15 For the Lion`s Den

By Perkins-Tino Bare
Zimbabwe cricket has reportedly announced a 15 member squad for the hugely publicisied Pakistan tour later this month over the growing concerns over security. The players include Charles Coventry who makes a return after a long while whilst the veteran Chris Mpofu also makes his way back into the squad after his exploits in the Logan cup where he was the highest wicket taker of the 2014\15 season.
The squad will also include Roy Kaia who also charged his way into the squad as a result of his local exploits as well. Zimbabwe was forced to `look local` in terms of bowling after Tendai Chatara injured his leg playing amateur football with his friends. The injury sidelined the player for up to 6 months and though the squad is still yet to be finalised there`s already a list making the rounds of the called 15 for the task. The squad will include Prosper Utseya, who now bowls a rather sluggish medium-pace after he was banned from bowling offspin.

The schedule has been receiving minor changes as now the Chevrons are now expected to be in Pakistan on 19 May instead of the initial 17 and all matches will be played in Lahore.After terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricket team international cricket was not played on Pakistan’s grounds for many years. Zimbabwe’s visit to Pakistan will be the first by an International Cricket Council (ICC) full member team after the terrorism episode. Zimbabwe will play 3 one day international (ODI) matches and 2 T-Twenty matches.
The tour which has been criticised ever since its announcement received further criticism from the Federation of International Cricketers' Association (FICA) which warned against international teams touring Pakistan, stating its security experts had said the "risk is unmanageable." Zimbabwe Cricket has been tight lipped over the issue as they are all on for the tour and the matter seemingly becoming political with each passing day leaving the PCB with all to do in terms of playing down these fears.

FICA's statement came a day before Alistair Campbell, the Zimbabwe Cricket managing director, and security experts arrived in Pakistan to assess the security situation ahead of Zimbabwe's limited-overs tour of the country later this month"We are very concerned about the safety of players and any match officials who may be sent to Pakistan, should this tour go ahead," Tony Irish, the FICA executive chairman, said in an interview. "The risk assessment that we have received from FICA's security consultants is that an international tour to Pakistan remains an unacceptable risk and teams are advised against travelling there at present. Although we are sure that the Pakistan Cricket Board will do what they can regarding a security plan, our experts advise that the risk is unmanageable."
This has raised concerns even amongst the local cricket fans as fans are no starting to feel the pain of their national team being merely used to test the waters,. This growing concern is rather misguided in that Pakistan has it all to do in terms of security but in a sad way we do need the game time so in as much as we are being used to test the waters can we really lose the opportunity to play a team besides Bangladesh? In as much as we may fear for the players, yes either way we`ll still end up playing into the hands of someone and the decision that Zimbabwe Cricket I personally support because Dav Whatmore called for more game-time and ZC is doing exactly that. ZC should therefore do whatever they can to support the coach than rather frustrate his efforts. The tour should be a good one for Whatmore as he has some knowledge of Pakistan after working with there with his first assignment being a successful one as Pakistan lifted the Asia Cup after beating Bangladesh in the Final. He left the coaching position when his contract ended in 2014 joining ZC late last year and it is also going to provide the players a chance to make right the mistakes they made this past World Cup which was all but dissapointing.
Squad (probable): Elton Chigumbura (capt), Sikandar Raza, Charles Coventry, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Roy Kaia, Hamilton Masakadza, Chris Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa, Richmond Mutumbami, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusi Sibanda, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Sean Williams







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