The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
ZIMBABWE Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani is disappointed with the Chevrons’ dismal performance at the ICC Twenty20 World Cup.
Zimbabwe bowed out of the ongoing world showcase in India in the preliminary round after succumbing to a 59-run loss to Afghanistan in what was effectively a qualification play-off as both teams had won their first two group matches.
Although insisting he will only be able to comment more after receiving coach Dav Whatmore’s report, the ZC boss said the board felt let down.
“We are very disappointed at the team’s performance and their subsequent failure to make it into the main competition. As a board, we sincerely thought we had done enough to ensure the boys went to the tournament ready.
“We made sure that they played more games, had ample time to prepare and, most importantly, we made sure they had the best possible manpower assisting them,” he said.
The Chevrons, who arrived home on Friday, finished second in their group after beating Hong Kong and Scotland by 14 and 11 runs respectively before losing to Afghanistan in a winner-takes-all encounter at VCA Stadium.
With the exception of Wellington Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda, none of the players did their reputations any good. Masakadza’s 4-28 with the ball restricted Scotland to 136, while Sibanda’s 59 off 46 with the bat ensured the Chevrons beat Hong Kong.
Both were duly awarded man-of-the-match awards for their efforts.
The Whatmore-led technical team is expected to hand over its report to the ZC board this week. Another topical issue expected to dominate debate when the board meets is Marvan Atapattu’s terms of employment.
Atapattu is working as a batting consultant and has refused a permanent role citing a pressing schedule.
“We have many issues to discuss and I believe the batting coach debate is one that needs to be addressed immediately,” said Mukhulani.
“Atapattu and Makhaya Ntini (bowling consultant) have done an outstanding job with the lads in the short time they have been with us, and we saw flashes of improvements in the manner in which the lads asserted themselves in India.
“However, Atapattu has continually refused to be tied down on a permanent basis and we need to find a way to resolve that issue.
“His current deal is not acceptable to us as the team urgently needs a permanent batting coach; one who will take charge of the boys from now until the next world cups
“We hope to either convince him to stay and tie him down to a permanent contract or at the very least keep him as a consultant while we bring in someone new to take charge of the batting department,” said the ZC boss.
