The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
TIME can change anything!
No one better attests to this fact than Zimbabwe seamer and Pakistan Super League champion Blessing Muzarabani.
After all, here is a player who took the gamble to put his international career on ice in 2018 to go and horn his skills in English county cricket with Northamptonshire.
In the time since his return, the 24-year-old has risen to become one of the Chevrons main bowlers.
A fearless character, Muzarabani bided his time at Multan Sultan, took his opportunity when it came and now proudly hangs the PSL championship medal.
The Sunday Mail Sport recently caught up with him for a quick chat on his experiences in Pakistan, winning the title with Multan Sultan and the upcoming Bangladesh tour.
It didn’t take long to find out where his heart truly lay during the whole trip.
The cricketer has been following proceedings, especially the Tigers’ visit, and is ecstatic at the prospect of returning to international cricket.
“Yeah, I have been following everything as it pertains to the Bangladesh tour and the Covid-19 pandemic. I was happy when cricket got the greenlight to resume despite the lockdown and stuff. I can’t wait to put on those whites and Zimbabwe shirt to represent my country again.
“It’s always a proud moment for me,” he said.
Zimbabwe and Bangladesh will on Wednesday resume hostilities on the cricket pitch when they square off in the one-off Ispahani Test Match at Harare Sports Club.
The series will then move on to the shorter format, with the two sides meeting in three ODIs and three Twenty20 matches at the same venue.
Zimbabwe last week announced their 20-man squad for the Test match, with Muzarabani making the cut.
Together with the likes of returning
skipper Sean Williams, Brendan Taylor and Craig Ervine, the pace bowler will be expected to provide some leadership and experience to a squad that includes four uncapped players in Tanaka Chivanga, Joylord Gumbie, Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Dion Myers.
More importantly for the Chevrons is the hope that Muzarabani will carry on his form for the PSL into the series.
“I have learnt a lot really (during the PSL) and I am just going to try to apply all the things I learnt into my performances.
“I know this (Test) is a different format from the T20 I was playing, but some of the lessons can apply.
“I will apply the little that I can into my game and hopefully it will make me a better cricketer. “The goal is to win as many games as possible for my country, and I am really looking forward to it.”
The seamer, affectionately known as “Mabhunu’’, will be buoyed by his starring performances in the PSL.
He finished the PSL campaign with 10 wickets from six games, including two crucial scalps during Multan Sultan’s 47-run victory over Peshawar Zalmi in the final.
“It feels good.
“I am at a loss for words and can only say that I am happy that we managed to win.
“It’s a really good feeling,” he said.
He noted that of all the highlights, which included meeting coach and Zimbabwe legend Andy Flower and taking crucial wickets, being in the final will forever be memorable.
