The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE senior cricket team coach Lalchand Rajput has demanded consistency from his players after he was left disappointed following his side’s collapse in their T20 International series against Namibia at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo last week, which the visitors rallied to win 3-2.
In the wake of the loss, he has since called on the Chevrons to show character.
He also pleaded with his players to play for the national team badge as they round off their T20 World Cup qualifiers with a date against Afghanistan at Harare Sports Club this week. Zimbabwe will first face Afghanistan in three ODI matches scheduled for June 4, 6 and 9.
The two sides will then square off in three T20I matches at the same venue on June 11, 12 and 14.
“Afghanistan is a tough side and we really need to play our best cricket. These players should play for the Zimbabwe badge, the country and millions of people that support and follow them.
“They should be proud of representing the country,” said Rajput.
Against Namibia, the Chevrons got off to a promising start, winning the opening match.
“We as coaches prepare them well and at the end they have to go and perform in the middle. I think it is time the players start performing not only in a single game but they should perform consistently, because if they fail to perform consistently, then we get the results we are getting.
“We also need to work on the mental strength of the players.”
Matches against Afghanistan are the last of the Chevrons’ preparatory series ahead of the T20 global qualifiers.
And Rajput believes a win will a confidence-booster.
“Hopefully everything falls in place in our next series against Afghanistan. A win against them will surely boost the confidence of the team going into the qualifiers.”
Five of the regular players make their return to the fold after missing the series against Namibia.
“We missed some of our regular players during the Namibia series but that should not be an excuse for not winning.
“I am happy that we will be having our full strength squad in the forthcoming series against Afghanistan.”
