FOLLOWING the conclusion of the high-profile series against Australia and South Africa, Zimbabwe shift their attention to the upcoming tour of Bangladesh with the A side expected to leave for Asia today.
SPORTS REPORTER
The Zimbabwe A, comprising mostly of development players and a few senior players, will play against their Bangladesh counterparts in two four-day matches and three 50-over matches from Septemberember 14 to October 1.
Former Zimbabwe coach Walter Chawaguta was expected to take charge of the Zimbabwe A during the tour, but Zimbabwe Cricket sources told our sister paper NewsDay Sport that he had since been replaced by Mufaro Chituramani.
Chituramani has previously worked with Stephen Mangongo at Mountaineers and Mashonaland Eagles.
According to the tour itinerary, the first four-day match between the two starts on Sunday at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox’s Bazar.
The Zimbabwe A tour is expected to provide an opportunity for some of the fringe players to impress ahead of the Zimbabwe senior side’s tour starting on October 26.
It will be a chance for some of the senior national team players to adjust to the conditions in Bangladesh before the Mangongo-coached side arrives in the Asian country.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Zimbabwe will play three Tests and five one-day international (ODI) matches during the bilateral series which runs until Novemberember 28.
Some of the players to feature for the Zimbabwe A side were part of the national representative side that finished third at the inaugural Global Softech Sixes tournament in South Africa at the weekend.
The team, which was coached by former national coach Andy Waller, beat Namibia by four wickets in the third-place play-off at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
Namibia had finished on 92 for three in their allotted five overs which Zimbabwe, who had finished third in the six-team pool, easily chased down after finishing on 96 for two.
Meanwhile, South Africa were crowned the champions of the inaugural Global Softech Sixes tournament after beating Kenya by six wickets in the final.
Kenya made 91 for two in their allotted five overs and South Africa won comfortably with 10 balls to spare.
Six South African domestic franchises and six African countries — Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe and the host, South Africa — participated in the six-a-side tournament which consisted of five overs per team.
Zimbabwe A tour to Bangladesh Itinerary September 14: first unofficial Test — Bangladesh A v Zimbabwe A (Cox’s Bazar)
September 21: second unofficial Test — Bangladesh A v Zimbabwe A (Fatullah)
September 27: first unofficial ODI — Bangladesh A v Zimbabwe A (Fatullah)
September 29: Second unofficial ODI — Bangladesh A v Zimbabwe A (Fatullah)
October 1 — third unofficial ODI —Bangladesh A v Zimbabwe A (Fatullah)
Zimbabwe Tour of Bangladesh Itinerary October 26 — first Test — Bangladesh v Zimbabwe (Chittagong)
November 7 — Second Test — Bangladesh v Zimbabwe (Chittagong)
November 11 — third Test — Bangladesh v Zimbabwe (Dhaka)
November 19 — first ODI — Bangladesh v Zimbabwe (Dhaka)
November 21 — second ODI —Bangladesh v Zimbabwe (Dhaka)
November 23 — third ODI — Bangladesh v Zimbabwe (Dhaka)
November 26 — fourth ODI — Bangladesh v Zimbabwe (Chittagong)
November 28 — fifth ODI — Bangladesh v Zimbabwe (Chittagong)