Mashonaland Logan Cup report

Mashonaland are playing two teams in the Logan Cup this season, an innovation after many good players were omitted from last year's competition, while in addition the national players are available this year. CricInfo spoke to the acting convener of the Mashonaland selectors, Max Ebrahim, for information on the two teams. `Babu' Meman, the convener, is currently managing the Zimbabwe team on tour. Other provincial selectors are Iain Butchart, Kevin Duers and Stephen Mangongo.

Team lists (*Test/ODI player; +wicket-keeper):

Mashonaland                   Mashonaland A
*Gavin Rennie                 *Trevor Gripper
Hamilton Masakadza            Alester Maregwede
*Trevor Madondo               Dion Ebrahim
*Alistair Campbell            *Stuart Carlisle
*+Andy Flower                 Greg Lamb
*Grant Flower                 *Dirk Viljoen
*Craig Evans                  +Tatenda Taibu
*Paul Strang                  *Andy Blignaut
*Gus Mackay                   *Brian Murphy
*Bryan Strang                 *Everton Matambanadzo
*Eddo Brandes                 *David Mutendera
Reserves:
Brighton Watambwa             Darlington Matambanadzo
+Donald Campbell              +Eian Marillier

Trevor Penney will coach both teams, but will be attached during the tournament to Mashonaland A, as they are the younger side. The captains will be named at a later date.

When selecting the two teams, the aim was to keep the national players together in the Mashonaland team and the Zimbabwe Board XI players together in Mashonaland A. One or two changes have been made, for example the switching of Carlisle with Masakadza, as the latter is expected to open the innings. 17 of the players in the two teams have international experience.

One potential problem is that the Zimbabwe Board XI, after its recent successes, may well play in both finals of the UCBSA competitions (three-day and one-day), and so could miss two Logan Cup fixtures, which would leave massive holes in the Mashonaland A team. There is also the possibility of injuries. Therefore eight `floating' reserves have been named, who could be called upon to represent either team if necessary:

Brian Bath, Norbert Manyande, Lance Malloch-Brown, Brad McCoun, Walter Chawaguta, Andre Neethling, Gary du Plessis, Jason Vaughan-Davies.

Three Mashonaland players have been released to other provinces by request. Craig Wishart will play for Midlands, while Gary Brent and Stuart Matsikenyeri will play for Manicaland, as they did last season.