Zimpapers Logo

Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWE coach Lalchand Rajput has set himself targets to take the Chevrons back to winning ways, when they take on Ireland and Scotland, in the coming weeks.

The Chevrons, who are coming out of a difficult home series against Bangladesh, desperately want to get things right, in the upcoming tour.

The team left Harare on Thursday and will be training in isolation, for the next six days, under the Covid-19 protocols.

Rajput has infused new blood for the tour and is banking on the return of skipper Sean Williams and Craig Ervine, who missed the series against Bangladesh.

“We are going with a young team and the young guys really raised their hand against Bangladesh, I think you have seen that. 

‘’We could not cross over the line but I am sure we will definitely cross over the line in Ireland,” Rajput told Zimpapers Television Network.

The Chevrons will also see them proceed from Belfast to Edinburgh for more internationals against Scotland.

The five-match T20I series, between Zimbabwe and Ireland, will get the tour underway next Friday.

The T20Is will be the final home internationals, in this format for Ireland, before the squad heads to the UAE, for the ICC T20 World Cup in October.

Ireland will be taking part in the global fiesta while Zimbabwe missed out due to an ICC suspension.

The ODIs will take place between September 8 and September 13. 

The ODIs are crucial for both teams, as they are part of the ICC World Cup Super League – which is part of the qualification pathway to the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup.

The Super League features 13 teams, comprising 12 ICC Full Members and the Netherlands, who qualified by winning the 2015-17 ICC World Cricket League Championship.

Under the Super League, teams will play eight three-match series each, four at home and four away. 

Each team gets 10 points for a win, five for a tie.

Zimbabwe have played six Super League matches, won one and lost five.  The Chevrons are bottom of the 13-team table, with 10 points, while Ireland have 35 points, from 12 games.

Two of their Super League wins came in the series against England and South Africa.

Zimbabwe’s 10 points came from the thrilling Super Over victory over Pakistan in Rawalpindi last year. 

“We have missed most of our senior players most of the time. So, their coming in definitely helps, and these youngsters will definitely rub in. 

“Sean is a big competitor and I am sure things will get better. 

‘’Definitely, we have to win, that’s important… we have got to take some points, that is very important for us. 

‘’We would want to improve in winning matches, that’s important,” said Rajput.

Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers and Milton Shumba, have been called up in line with the coach’s philosophy of rebuilding the side.

Ireland Cricket have named two squads, led by Andrew Balbirnie, for the multi-format series. 

Cricket Ireland also named the Ireland Wolves squad for the one-off match between the two white-ball series.

Zimbabwe Squad for Ireland & Scotland Tour

Burl Ryan, Chakabva Regis, Chatara Tendai, Ervine Craig, Jongwe Luke, Kamunhukamwe Tinashe, Madhevere Wessly, Marumani Tadiwanashe, Masakadza Wellington, Musakanda Tarisai, Muzarabani Blessing, Myers Dion, Ngarava Richard, Raza Sikandar, Shumba Milton, Taylor Brendan, Tiripano Donald, Williams Sean

Ireland T20I squad: Andrew Balbirnie (Captain), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Shane Getkate, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, William McClintock, Kevin O’Brien, Neil Rock, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young.

Ireland ODI squad: Andrew Balbirnie (Captain), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Graham Kennedy, Josh Little, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, William Porterfield, Neil Rock, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.

Tour itinerary

T20I series:

l 27 August: Ireland Men v Zimbabwe Men – 1st T20I (Clontarf, start 12pm)

 l29 August: Ireland Men v Zimbabwe Men – 2nd T20I (Clontarf, start 12pm)

  lbabwe Men – 3rd T20I (Bready, start 3pm)

l 2 September: Ireland Men v Zimbabwe Men – 4th T20I (Bready, start 3pm)

 l4 September: Ireland Men v Zimbabwe Men – 5th T20I (Bready, start 3pm)

Wolves match:

  l 6 September: Ireland Wolves v Zimbabwe XI – ODM (Venue TBC, start 10.30am)

World Cup Super League series:

  l 8 September: Ireland Men v Zimbabwe Men – 1st ODI (Stormont, start 10.30am)

l 10 September: Ireland Men v Zimbabwe Men – 2nd ODI (Stormont, start 10.30am)

  l13 September: Ireland Men v Zimbabwe Men – 3rd ODI (Stormont, start 10.30am)