Zimbabwe sides face Kenya in T20 tourney

Zimbabwe’s preparations for next month’s limited-overs series at home to Australia and Pakistan have received a timely boost after Kenya committed to visit Harare for a three-team Twenty20 (T20) tournament starting on Monday.

Kenya will face the Zimbabwe Select and Board XI teams in the triangular series scheduled for Old Hararians and Takashinga in the capital.

Douglas Hondo has been named the Zimbabwe Select coach and his assistant will be Stanley Timoni, who will also be the team manager.

The Board XI team will be coached by Shepherd Makunura, with Eric Chauluka assisting him and also doubling as the team manager.

Anesu Mupotaringa and Stanley Chioza have been engaged as physiotherapist and analyst respectively.

The tournament involving Kenya will give Zimbabwe’s recently appointed interim head coach, Lalchand Rajput, his first look at some of the players who will be at his disposal for the Twenty20 international (T20I) triangular series with Australia and Pakistan.

“This is a training squad which will, eventually, be trimmed before the final squad for the T20I series is announced,” said Walter Chawaguta, the convenor of national selectors.

“The tournament involving Kenya will effectively allow the new coach an opportunity to get a glimpse of the players in action,” he added.

Some of the players vying for places in Zimbabwe’s final squad will not be available to face Kenya as they are either recovering from injury or committed overseas, but they are expected to be back in time for the T20I series.

Matches are on the 11th, 13th and 15th at Old Hararians. After that they move to Takashinga on the 17th and 19th.

Zimbabwe Select: Donald Tiripano, Kevin Kasuza, Brian Chari, Christopher Mpofu, Sean Williams, Ernest Masuku, Tarisai Musakanda, Kyle Jarvis, Brendan Taylor, Ryan Burl, Rugare Magarira, Liam Roche, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Wellington Masakadza, Tendai Chisoro

Board XI: Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura, Prince Masvaure, Peter Moor, Tendai Chatara, Richard Ngarava, Ryan Murray, Brandon Mavuta, John Nyumbu, Nyasha Mayavo, Mohammad Faraz Akram, Natsai M’shangwe