The Sunday Mail
CEPHAS ZHUWAO received so much hate during the Chevron’s doomed ICC World Cup qualification campaign that he dumped social media.
A late addition to the team, the 33-year old batsman did not really come to the party despite several promising starts at the top of the order.
Irate cricket fans took to social media to voice their concerns with many accusing Zhuwao of throwing away his wicket.
But the batsman is unperturbed and has vowed to continue with his aggressive style.
“I do not pay attention to what people are saying. I no longer go on Facebook, Twitter or any of the other social media sites,” said Zhuwawo.
“I know what I am capable of and have no intention of changing any time soon. After all this supposed aggressive batting style is the very thing that brought me here.
“I have been batting like this for years, whether it in the domestic league or the tours with the Zimbabwe A side.
“God is my comfort and I have put my faith in him. I remember being in church when I received the news of my late call-up via text. It was a prayer heard and a prayer answered.”
Speaking before the World Cup dream was painfully extinguished by the United Arab Emirates, Chevrons head coach Heath Streak disclosed that Zhuwao had been given the license to play his normal game.
“We know exactly what Cephas is capable of, having seen him play domestically and with the Zimbabwe ‘A’ side. Having him in the team gives us good and lethal starts at the top of the order and we have given him the freedom to play his natural game,” said streak.
Having been dropped in the all-important clash against the United Arab Emirates, Zhuwao will be hoping to get recalled back into the team and add on to the 83 runs he scored in five innings.
The Mashonaland Eagles batsman hopes that his self-imposed social media ban will bring him closer to God and help him concentrate more on his game.
“Admittedly, things did not go according to plan during the World Cup qualifiers. Yes, I have those two forties, but I have not scored as many runs as I would have liked. I failed to score 50s and 100s and even when I did make good starts in the games against Nepal and Hong Kong, I failed to convert.
“That said, I refuse to put my hand in the sand and cry over spilt milk. I have a few areas to work on and have been putting in the extra hours in the nets.”
