HARARE, Zimbabwe, Mar 26, CMC – Stuart Matsikenyeri and Shingi Masakadza have been dumped for the World Twenty20 Championship in the Caribbean starting next month, while experienced batsmen Andy Blignaut and Justice Chibhabha have been recalled to the 15-man squad named Friday.
Both Matsikenyeri and Masakadza toured the Caribbean for the five-match One-Day International tour against West Indies recently which Zimbabwe lost 4-1.
Matsikenyeri has paid the price for his poor form which produced 42 runs in six innings while Masakadza has been dropped despite playing just one match – the second ODI when Zimbabwe pulled off a last-over victory in Guyana.
Blignaut, who has not played international cricket in almost five years, returns to bolster the squad whose batting was suspect on the recent Caribbean tour.
The 31-year-old has played 19 Tests and 51 ODIs but has not turned out for Zimbabwe since September 2005.
Chibhabha, a talented 23-year-old right-hander, has played 49 ODIs and is experienced in Caribbean conditions having contested the 2007 World Cup.
He has been in superb form in the domestic competition with three half-centuries in the 230 runs he has scored, to be the second highest run-getter.
Zimbabwe have been zoned in Group B of the April 30 to May 16 tournament along with Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
They will arrive early in the Caribbean where they will clash with West Indies A in a four-day match and two T20s in Grenada.
SQUAD – Prosper Utseya (captain), Brendan Taylor, Charles Coventry, Andy Blignaut, Hamilton Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu (wk), Greg Lamb, Elton Chigumbura, Vusi Sibanda, Ray Price, Graeme Cremer, Chamu Chibhabha, Chris Mpofu, Timycen Maruma and Craig Ervine.
