The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi – Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE cricket limited overs captain Elton Chigumbura is eying top drawer performances when he links up with his Barbados Tridents side for the T20 Champions League in India tomorrow.
Tridents will represent the West Indies at the lucrative tournament, which is set to run from September 17 to October 6.
An in-form Chigumbura is relishing the prospect of rubbing shoulders with some of the best cricket players in the world.
“It’s a great opportunity, India is the home of the popular IPL (Indian Premier League) and this is the perfect chance for me to showcase my talent.
“My aim is to do well so that I cement a place in the team and get called up again next year. It’s an interesting challenge and I am ready for it,” he said.
Chigumbura, who has also featured in the Bangladesh Premier League, reckons solid performances from him will also open the door for other Zimbabweans.
“I will be playing for Barbados (Tridents), but at the same time I am going there to represent Zimbabwe. Hopefully, I will do well and bring back positive results for cricket here at home.
“Performing well while playing against some of the best players in the world will obviously open more doors not only for me, but fellow Zimbabwean players.
“Sharing the dressing room with players from different parts of the world also gives me an opportunity to learn more about the game,” he said.
Chigumbura will share the dressing room with such players as West Indian Ravi Rampaul, former South Africa international Neil McKenzie and New Zealand’s James Franklin.
Action started yesterday with the qualifying round matches, before the main group stage matches come to life on Wednesday. The semi-finals of the T20 Champions League will be played in Hyderabad on October 2, while the final is set for Bengaluru two days later.
