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Stephen Mangongo

Jonathan John Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE cricket team assistant coach Stephen Mangongo believes his charges have the right mental attitude as they clash with Afghanistan in the first match of the ODI series set to begin at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo this morning.
Zimbabwe are set to host the rising associate nation in four ODI matches inside seven days.

The tour is part of preparations for bigger assignments against South Africa and Australia, who are coming for a triangular series in Harare next month.

“We have prepared well over the past two months and the guys are hungry to get back to the international arena after a long break,” said Mangongo.

“They are not in international cricket by mistake and as a full member we are under pressure to display good cricket from the start.”

He also highlighted the importance of these warm-up matches as they give the technical team an opportunity to bring some new talent to the fore and ensure a smooth cycle in the national team.

Mountaineers’ youthful seamer Donald Tiripano made the final squad of 15 yesterday and might be thrown into the fray to earn his first full international cap.

Tiripano was a key member of the national Under-19 squad at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

The selectors have also retained a host of national team players like Elton Chigumbura, Hamilton Masakadza, Sean Williams, Shingi Masakadza, Vusi Sibanda with Brendan Taylor as skipper.

“In this series we are looking to expose as many new names as possible in order to ensure some depth in our squad and continuity in the national team,” said Mangongo.

Zim squad:
Brendan Taylor, Sikandar Raza Butt,  Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Elton Chigumbura, Timycen Maruma, Hamilton Masakadza, Shingirai Masakadza, Natsai M’shangwe, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Donald Tiripano, Prosper Utseya, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams.