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CAPTAIN’S CALL . . . India cricket captain Ajinkya Rahane (left) addresses the media in the company of team manager GS Walia at Harare Sports Club yesterday ahead of tomorrow’s opening ODI against Zimbabwe

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
SEASONED Zimbabwe bowler Prosper Utseya believes the Chevrons have a good bowl attack that is capable of containing India in their limited overs series that is expected to get underway tomorrow at Harare Sports Club.

The hosts take on the Asians in a cricket limited overs series that comprises of three ODIs and two T20s and Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane told the media yesterday that his side is cautious ahead of taking on Zimbabwe.

“Yes, we have the skill and I believe most of the bowlers have always done well. The likes of Brian Vitori, Tinashe Panyangara Graeme Creamer and myself being part of the team shows that the selectors and coaches are looking for variety.

“But it all depends on what the game plan on the day that will determine who the coach and captain will pick for their attack.

“I, however, feel that we do not have much pace amongst our bowlers, we seem to be on the slower side,” said Utseya.

Despite all this, Rahane has remained cautious given the fact that his side recently put up a poor show in Bangladesh where they suffered their first ever series loss to the Tigers while Zimbabwe lost all their matches during their tour to Pakistan in May.

“We all know that Zimbabwe is a good side and they have been playing pretty well recently. So we are expecting a good series here in the three one dayers and two T20s.

“The boys (India) are looking forward to the series, so we are not taking Zimbabwe lightly and we are respecting them and respecting their brand of cricket so we are looking forward to playing good cricket.

“We take every opponent seriously and here we are taking Zimbabwe very seriously,” he said during a press conference.

“I think Zimbabwe have a pretty balanced side. In Pakistan they played good cricket and they have experienced batsmen and even good all-rounders and bowlers,” he said.

With the International Cricket Council having recently changed the fielding conditions, Utseya says the new fielding restrictions will benefit mostly the seamers adding that this was a good move aimed at balancing the game.

“The previous restrictions favoured the batsmen more, but the new conditions have no advantage to the slow bowlers because the period we bowl has not been affected that much as we come in after the 10th over.

“It’s not about reducing or increasing the rate at which we get wickets as bowlers but it is about reducing the total score and it comes down to how much pressure is on the bowlers and if they have the skill and quality to keep the batsmen under pressure,” said Utseya.

The ICC board recently decided to do away with catching fielders in the first ten overs, getting rid of the batting Power-play and allow five fielders outside the 30-yard circle in the last ten overs of an ODI innings.

Rehane has a lot of belief in the young side that India have brought to the series and feels this will be a good platform for them to shine on the international scene and make a name for themselves.

“Our objective is to play good cricket and give ourselves 100 percent effort. We have a pretty young side but this is a good opportunity for the youngsters to do well at national level.

“Most of them have done well in domestic season back home and even in the IPL. So as their captain I am sure the boys will do well and give their best and we are here to win the games,” said Rahane.

The 27-year old top order batsman who is also a right-arm medium bowler feels he has been thrust with a great responsibility of captaining India in the absence of MS Dhoni.

“The Bangladesh series is past and we are thinking on the present series and our plan would be to better our game rather than looking at Zimbabwe’s strengths.

“Our plan would be to play to our strengths and give our best on the potential that we have,” he said.

“It’s a new challenge (being captain) for me in my career and I am just looking forward to this new challenge. Normal I utilise every opportunity when I play a game and now I have a few ideas in me on captaincy but I learnt a lot from Dhoni, under his captaincy,” he said.

Squads:

Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Sikandar Raza Butt, Regis Chakabva, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Graeme Cremer, Neville Madziva, Hamilton Masakadza, Richmond Mutumbami, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Donald Tiripano, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller and Sean Williams.

India: Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Murali Vijay, Ambati Rayudu, Manoj Tiwary, Kedar Jadhav, Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey, Harbhajan Singh, Axar Patel, Dhawal Kulkarni, Stuart Binny, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohit Sharma and Sandeep Sharma