The Sunday Mail
Makomborero Mutimukulu – Acting Sports Editor
WALTER CHAWAGUTA does not know why he was dropped, at the last minute, from the Zimbabwe A squad that begins its tour of Bangladesh today.
The coach was a surprise omission from the travelling party announced by Zimbabwe Cricket on the eve of the trip to the sub continent.
For months, Chawaguta was directing operations with the tour of Bangladesh in mind, but his name was conspicuous by its absence when ZC announced the touring party.
The tour will see Zim A playing in two four-day and three one-day matches against Bangladesh A.
National team and Mashonaland Eagles assistant coach Mufaro Chiturumani was named as the head coach, Shepherd Mukunura assistant coach/manager and Douglas Hondo the bowling coach.
Chawaguta last week disclosed that he was in the dark as no one from ZC has bothered to explain the “shocking” decision.
“A lot of people have been asking why I am not part of the team that is in Bangladesh and my answer has been consistent . . . I don’t know, no one has given me an explanation.
“The best people to comment are the ZC and the cricket chairman,” said Chawaguta.
Speculation is rife that Chawaguta is paying the price for strained relationships with national cricket team coach Steve Mangongo and the convener of selectors Givemore Makoni.
However, the pair has distanced itself from the matter, while ZC media and communications manager Lovemore Banda claims that there is nothing amiss with the decision to replace Chawaguta as the Zim A squad “does not have a permanent coach as of now.”
“The Zimbabwe A side has no permanent coach as of now and so coaches are assigned to it on a needs basis,” he said.
“Chawaguta was working with the side, but it was later decided that given that a good number of the players selected for the tour to Bangladesh had just been with the senior team, the senior team’s assistant coach should take the side on tour so that he would continue with their mentoring and monitoring. Chawaguta remains Zimbabwe Under-19 coach.”
Meanwhile, despite the drama surrounding the Zim A tour, skipper Vusi Sibanda told The Sunday Mail on the eve of the team’s departure that he expects his troops to focus on the job at hand.
“I would like to think that the players are concentrating on their game and leaving off-field matters to the board. They should worry about how they are going to play, I am sure they are focused,” said the 30-year-old batsman.
Zimbabwe A squad:
Vusimuzi Sibanda (Capt), Regis Chakabva, Brian Chari, Michael Chinouya, Joylord Gumbie, Luke Jongwe, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Neville Madziva, Tatenda Manatsa, Timycen Maruma, Shingi Masakadza, Tino Mawoyo, Kudakwashe Munyede, Tawanda Mupariwa, Forster Mutizwa, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Richmond Mutumbami, Taurai Muzarabani, Mark Vermeulen, Malcolm Waller
Zim A Schedule:
September 14-17 — 1st unofficial Test
September 21-24 — 2nd unofficial Test
September 27 — 1st unofficial ODI
September 29 — 2nd unofficial ODI
October 1 — 3rd unofficial ODI.
