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Makhaya Ntini

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE cricket team coach Makhaya Ntini says the tour by India is the best thing that has happened to his charges as he believe the matches will go a long way to quench their hunger for international cricket.

Ntini, who replaced Dave Whatmore in his first job as national team coach recently, is excited to play India in three One Day Internationals starting tomorrow and three Twenty20 matches later next week.

The Asians arrived on Wednesday evening and trained at the match venue yesterday morning.

A welcome reception was held for them later in the evening at a local hotel.

India are Zimbabwe’s first opponents since the World T20 tournament which was held in India in March.

The former world champions may not have sent their best side for this tour but the Zimbabweans are still looking to get value from it.

“Everyone is excited and we can’t wait for the games to start. The players are in a good space, you should see the smiles on their faces during training. It’s like you have given them candy; it’s like Christmas has come early for them.

“You know with the position where Zimbabwe are now at the moment, it’s a position of hunger especially when it comes to international cricket.

“They have been starved a lot as a Test playing nation and I think their case needs to be so much looked into by the other top nations.

“You see, you need to be active to know where you are coming from and where you are going. It’s also good for the rankings.

“But it’s quite refreshing that India have raised their hand up to come and play Zimbabwe. They may not have sent all their top players but we are still excited that Mahindra Singh Dhoni is here,” said Ntini.

The former South Africa international has helped Zimbabwe players with their fitness routines since they returned from the World Cup.

The Chevrons intensified their preparations last month when they held training camps in Harare and Bulawayo.

The selectors kept faith in their regulars and have also called Timycen Maruma.

There were changes to the technical department in the run up to this tour after the authorities decided to part ways with Whatmore and replacing him with Ntini, who is being assisted by bowling coach Lance Klusener.

Leg spinner, Graeme Cremer who was recently named new captain of the side, yesterday said they are looking forward to the tour and does not believe changes to the technical team will affect performances and results.

“(The preparations have been) pretty good actually, we have had a good lead-up to now. We had a good camp in Bulawayo and there were a couple of injuries which have set us aback a bit but we have got a good squad that is raring to go at the weekend.

“Makhaya has been here with us for a little while, Lance has come in the last couple of days and he seems really good; a lot of good ideas so we are looking forward to play under them,” said Cremer. Zimbabwe’s preparations suffered a set-back following injuries to fast bowler Tinashe Panyangara and all-rounder Ryan Burl.

Cremer said they are hoping to find their rhythm as the Chevrons had last played ODIs late December and early January against Afghanistan.

They lost the series 3-2 in Sharjah.

“Obviously we haven’t played one-dayers for quite a while now which is not ideal but we are playing at home and are confident that we can put on a good show.

“We obviously want to win but we will take it game by game. If we put on some good performances the result will take care of itself,” said Cremer.

India have sent a squad comprising mostly fringe and inexperienced players. Five of them — Yuzvendra Chahal, Faiz Fazal, Mandeep Singh, Karun Nair and Jayant Yadav — will be looking to get their first international caps in Zimbabwe.

However, their captain Dhoni, with 275 ODIs and 68 T20Is under his belt, is the mainstay of the team. The Indians are under interim coach Sanjay Bangar.

India squad:

MS Dhoni (captain), KL Rahul, Faiz Fazal, Manish Pandey, Karun Nair, Ambati Rayudu, Rishi Dhawan, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jasprit Bumrah, Barinder Sran, Mandeep Singh, Kedar Jadhav, Jaydev Unadkat, Yuzvendra Chahal

Zimbabwe ODI squad: Graeme Cremer (capt), Richmond Mutumbami (wk), Taurai Muzarabani, Chamu Chibhabha, Peter Moor, Elton Chigumbura, Vusi Sibanda, Tawanda Mupariwa, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Neville Madziva, Donald Tiripano, Timycen Maruma, Wellington Masakadza, Tendai Chisoro, Hamilton Masakadza, Tendai Chatara, Craig Ervine.