The Sunday Mail
Don Makanyanga
Sports Reporter
TO say the build-up to the Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka series has been less than ideal would be a gross understatement.
And this applies to both the Chevrons and their hosts. Sri Lanka left it late to name their 17-man squad for the three ODI series, and with good reason. After a considerable number of chops and changes, the Asians last week made eight changes to the team that hosted West Indies last month.
According to reports from the pearl-shaped Island nation, Kusal Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Avishka Fernando, Dhananjaya de Silva are the biggest names to miss out.
Perera and Hasaranga are both nursing injuries, while Fernando tested positive for Covid-19 and Dhananjaya is on paternity leave following the birth of his first child.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa, meanwhile, ruled himself out of contention following his decision to retire — a decision he has now rescinded. Lahiru Kumara was named in the squad but failed Sri Lanka’s new fitness tests, and the duo of pace bowler Binura Fernando and spinner Akila Dananjaya are the other two that failed to make the cut.
Zimbabwe have had their fair share of challenges. The Chevrons, who left the country last weekend, had to be confined to their rooms for three days as part of Covid-19 protocols, while coach Lalchand Rajput returned a positive result on arrival in Sri Lanka on Monday.
He has since been forced into self-isolation. Prior to that, the gaffer had already expressed concerns over fitness levels of his charges.
He also emphasised the importance of a proper camp before leaving for Sri Lanka.
However, all these are now a thing of the past, and the time for action is now.
The two sides will clash in three Day and Night ODI matches, which begin today and run until January 21 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy.
Zimbabwe will be hoping to end a poor run of form against the Asian nation, in which they have only managed 11 wins from 57 ODIs.
The team will also have the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League campaign hanging over them.
Rajput, who has had limited time for preparations ahead of these 2023 World Cup qualifier matches, has demanded from his players to score big if they entertain any hopes of climbing up the Super League table, let alone improve their record.
“We are prepared for the match, though the preparations were not what we would have ideally liked them to be,” said Rajput. “We played three matches before coming here (Sri Lanka), and two of those matches were low-scoring.
“I would like the batters to improve on that and score big.
“Big score means chasing 300 plus, and that gives bowlers some cushion.
“They can improve their bowling, and it is rare for teams to chase down those kinds of scores.
“Obviously, we would also like to better our record against them, and there is always a positive intent that we are going to do well in this series.”
The India-born gaffer is hoping that his charges can also capitalise on the absence of Sri Lanka’s senior players, who have been ruled out of the series for various reasons.
“Sri Lanka had three positive cases and some of their senior players are out with injuries.
“This could be good news for us, hence the need to keep our heads up high if we are to get a positive result,” he said.
Zimbabwe currently sits bottom of the 13-team log with 25 points from nine matches.
Rajput is well aware of the challenge that lies ahead.
“These Super League matches will determine an automatic chance of qualifying for the World Cup, hence everyone in the team knows the importance of these three matches.
“The camaraderie in the team is superb; the only thing we have to do now is to start off well and that will set the tone for the series,” said the Chevrons coach.
He praised the selectors for including the uncapped duo of opener Takudzwanashe Kaitano and wicketkeeper Clive Madande.
Äll-rounder Tino Mutombodzi has also since returned to the national side.
“I have always believed that the guys who do well in domestic competitions should be given an opportunity, and the selectors have done just that.
“These two players, Kaitano and Madande, have done well in the Pro50 tournament.
“This gives positive feedback to the team and also warns players of taking their places in the team for granted.
“We want a situation in which we always have players who perform and push for a place in the national team.”
