Blessing Malinganiza
Lady Chevrons coach, Gary Brent believes the inclusion of Under-19 players in the team that is currently in India for a training camp ahead of next month’s Africa ICC World Cup T20 African qualifiers is part of the National team succession plan.
Kelis Ndhlovu, who captained the Zimbabwe Under-19 Women’s side at the inaugural ICC Under-19 Women’s World Cup in January, her vice Adel Zimunu bowler Kudzai Chigora and fourteen-year-old Beloved Biza are part of the 16-member team that is currently in India for a training camp.
Lady Chevrons coach, Brent described the inclusion of the young players as part of a long term plan for a succession plan for the senior women’s national.
“There always has to be a succession plan for anyone coming through.
“These players (that we have here) have earned their right to be here and yes you know we always have to have one eye on the future and these young players are certainly getting the exposure they need,” said the Lady Chevrons coach.
Turning to the three-week training camp which ended yesterday, Brent has described the camp as an important in his charges’ preparation for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup qualifiers.
“The camp’s been going really, really well and the girls have been working exceptionally hard in some trying conditions,” said Brent.
He revealed that the training camp was meant to expose the team to spin bowling.
“I mean training camps are really important and you know having the ability to come to Omtex and come to India and sort of challenge ourselves against really good spin bowlers and spinning conditions.
“This camp was specifically targeted to work really hard, hit lots of cricket balls, catch lots of balls and the girls have done that,” said Brent.
Turning onto the next month’s qualifiers which will see Zimbabwe joining Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and the hosts Uganda in the regional qualifier for next year’s two global qualifiers spots.
Brent believes that his charges will be ready to secure one of the two spots.
“It’s imperative for us that we train well and train hard and play as much cricket as we can going into the World Cup qualifiers and getting us ready to play and hopefully get us ready to qualify,” said Brent.