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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
MARY-ANNE Musonda has been named captain of the Zimbabwe women’s national team, ahead of the side’s tour to Namibia for five Twenty20 (T20) match early next year.

The 27-year-old batting all-rounder takes over from Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, who had led the team since 2013.

Musonda, who got her first national call-up as a teenager when Zimbabwe women played their first ever international cricket in 2006 before school commitments kept her away from the game until 2011, is excited about her new role.

“The transition from being a senior player to being the captain is not too bad considering there’s already working relationships amongst team members,” she said.

“So I’m expecting us to gel very well.”

Musonda has already set her sights on leading Zimbabwe to their maiden World Cup tournament.

“We are looking forward to qualifying for the World Cup,” she said.

“We have always managed to go through the regionals and our huge hiccup always comes at the global qualifiers. Her immediate assignment as captain will be Zimbabwe’s tour to Namibia in a fortnight’s time.

The bilateral series, dubbed the Namib Desert Women’s T20 Challenge, will be played at the Sparta Oval in Walvis Bay, with the matches scheduled for January 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10.

A squad of 21 players has been in camp since 10 December in preparation for the tour. The travelling squad of 14 will be announced this week.

Zimbabwe Women’s Squad

Mary-Anne Musonda (captain), Modester Mupachikwa, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Precious Marange, Anesu Mushangwe, Ashley Ndiraya, Josephine Nkomo, Nomvelo Sibanda, Sharne Mayers, Loreen Phiri, Lorraine Tshuma, Chiedza Mzembe, Francesca Chipare, Leanne Chibunhe, Chiedza Dhururu, Esther Mbofana, Nomatter Mutasa, Tasmeen Granger, Ellen Tshuma, Christabel Chatonzwa, Audrey Mazvishaya