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FOR A LOST CAUSE . . . Zimbabwe opener Brian Chari plays a shot during the first ODI against Pakistan at Harare Sports Club yesterday. — Cricinfo

Sports Reporter
FOR the third time in as many games, Zimbabwe failed to reach 130 against Pakistan and, yesterday, the Chevrons terribly lost their way as they were defeated by more runs than they put on the board in the first One Day International at Harare Sports Club.

Winning the toss and electing to field, the hosts restricted Pakistan to 259-6 in their allotted 50 overs but the Chevrons were woeful, in their reply, as they were hammered by 128 runs and were bundled out in just 37 overs.

Seven of the players in yesterday’s line-up have played more than 50 ODI matches — captain Elton Chigumbura (181) Hamilton Masakadza (160), Sean Williams (84), Chamunorwa Chibhabha (76) and the bowling duo of Graeme Creamer and Tinashe Panyangara on 52.

And convenor of selectors Kenyon Ziehl conceded that the senior players have failed the team and said coach Dav Whatmore was “giving his best” shot.

“We all know our senior players have failed, we have looked at that and that is why you can see that there are changes in the squad and there will be changes in the future,” said Ziehl.

“The senior players have performed in the past, they still have got the experience but at the moment they are out of form, they are not performing so we will revise that and we will look at our next game.

“As you can see now we have changed some personnel, (opening batsman) Brian (Chari) has had his first game today, he’s been fantastic, he held his own in his first game. It is very tough to open batting against a quality side like Pakistan.” Ziehl also backed Whatmore as the right coach for the team.

“He definitely is the right man for the job, he has prepared the guys, he has the experience, he has the knowledge, and it’s very difficult when you have given all your knowledge to the players. It’s up to the players to execute on the field.

“We have done a lot of ground work, we have prepared mentally and physically. The coach has backed the boys, he has spoken to them, he has come down hard on them when they have failed and he has all the credentials.

“You can do as much as you can but it is up to the players, when they get onto the field, who have to execute,” said Ziehl.

“Change is coming, it’s in the process. There are a couple of players who have stood down and nothing will happen overnight and the young players also do need the exposure and experience at this level. We will have games against Ireland and Afghanistan coming and the young players will also show what they can do.

“We have got other youngsters in the wings so although the personnel is there, they are waiting in the wings.

“We are in the process of doing that (changing the team), we are looking at some younger players and we can’t discard our senior players at once, we need the youth and experience, we need the youth to be part of the team in camp and give them games as we see fit.

“But you need that experience, you need to play international cricket, the younger players you put them in the deep-end straight away, I think in any business or any organisation, it’s a tough task. “So they need that confidence to build up experience.”

It was Yasir Shar’s spin that demolished Zimbabwe yesterday as he finished with figures of 6-26 — the best figures by any spinner at Harare Sports Club — as he ripped through the Zimbabwe top order.