Zimbabwe Cricket OnLine: Provincial News

MIDLANDS

Midlands general manager Ken Connelly must secretly be hoping that Zimbabwe will not make the final at Sharjah - as they are not expected to do. For if they do, he will have five players missing from the Logan Cup match against Matabeleland scheduled to start in Kwekwe on Friday 11 April, and will experience great difficulty in raising a second team to play their B Division match in Masvingo at all.

Since the first three rounds of matches, played in October, Midlands have lost several players. Among them are two former CFX Academy graduates. John Vaughan-Davies resigned and emigrated to South Africa, while Innocent Chinyoka had his contract with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union terminated for disciplinary reasons.

Coach Don Campbell is calling for squad practices starting on Monday 7 April, and they will wait to see what happens in Sharjah before announcing a team. If Zimbabwe, as expected with Pakistan and Sri Lanka as opponents, are knocked out, they expect their international players to be back just in time to play Logan Cup.

MATABELELAND

On the administrative side, Matabeleland have appointed Norman Dube as assistant general manager to Neil Todd.

Board member Terry Nicolle says that Matabeleland intend to rest their international players, even if they do return from Sharjah theoretically in time to play their match against Midlands in Kwekwe. They will also be without Mark Vermeulen, who is still suffering from the injury he suffered in the nets during the World Cup Super Sixes in South Africa and may need an operation on the bone above his eye, and Pommie Mbangwa, commentating in Sharjah. Mbangwa has played little league cricket for Queens Sports Club this season either, which may well prejudice his chances for a national recall for the England tour.

They are looking at a likely batting line-up of Charles Coventry, Ryan King, Barney Rogers (captain), Andre Hoffman, Gavin Ewing, Greg Strydom, Wisdom Siziba (wicket-keeper), Piet Rinke, Jordane Nicolle, Keith Dabengwa and Norman Mukondiwa. All have first-class experience.

According to Mr Nicolle, Rogers is batting exceptionally well at the moment, while Jordane Nicolle has recovered from his injury problems and is bowling with genuine pace and hostility. Ewing and Strydom will be looking to recover their form, which has been rather disappointing this season. Strydom will be attending the CFX Academy, as will Mukondiwa, who has had a reasonable club season despite frequent problems with no-balls.

MANICALAND

The big interest for Manicaland cricket at present is their appearance in the National League final against Takashinga on Sunday 6 April, according to Alan Walsh. The Mutare Sports Club team finished top of the league and won their semi-final against Kwekwe, so they hope to wrap up the double this coming weekend.

The news is not so encouraging for the final three rounds of the Logan Cup. They have lost both Alistair Campbell and Henry Olonga, and Neil Ferreira, the third captain this season, takes over the reins. Kudzai Taibu, brother of Tatenda, has been promoted to the first-team squad. Only Stuart Matsikenyeri of their team is currently playing in Sharjah.

Stephen Mangongo has been appointed cricket coach for the province. He will shortly move down from Harare to take up residence in Mutare.

The local Manicaland league was badly disrupted by the World Cup and the cyclone, which brought little but rain for two weeks. Fortunately the new covers at Mutare Sports Club did their job and the pitch was well protected.

MASHONALAND

Mashonaland could not provide any news. They are waiting to see when the national side are returning from Sharjah before naming a team.