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HAMILTON Masakadza’s stunning transformation from a player considered excess to baggage, a few months ago, into one of the Zimbabwe cricket team’s pillars was completed yesterday when he was appointed captain.

He will captain the Test, ODI and Twenty20 national team and takes over from Elton Chigumbura who resigned last Friday.

At its meeting in Harare yesterday, the Zimbabwe Cricket board also appointed Graeme Cremer as Masakadza’s deputy.

Masakadza is not new to captaincy. The 32-year-old, who is also a part-time medium pace bowler, has been a vice-captain for some time, during which tenure he has also stood in as captain when necessary.

The last time he acted as captain was in the second and third Twenty20 International (T20I) matches against hosts Bangladesh last week.

Masakadza has played 29 Test, 165 One-Day International (ODI) and 44 T20I matches for Zimbabwe.

His deputy, Cremer, has represented Zimbabwe in 11 Test, 61 ODI and 24 T20I matches. The leg-spinner is aged 29.

“Both Masakadza and Cremer are senior players who have shown their leadership abilities working with previous captains.

“We have no doubt they will be successful in their substantive posts, which come at a time when both are in the top 10 of the MRF Tyres ICC T20I Player Rankings for batsmen and bowlers respectively,” said ZC managing director Wilfred Mukondiwa when he announced the board appointments. — Sports Reporter/zimcricket.