Zimbabwe commence training camp

The Zimbabwe cricket team converged in Harare on Monday the 2nd of January for a two week training camp in preparation for a month long tour of New Zealand.

The tour runs from the 17th of January to the 14th of February 2012 and comprises a four day warm-up match against the New Zealand XI, a one-off Test match, three One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20 international matches. This will be the last international commitment for the national team in the 2010-11 season calendar.

The national selectors announced a training squad of 20 players which included right-arm fast bowler Christopher Mpofu who has now been ruled out of the tour due to a lower back injury. Mpofu was pulled out of the domestic Stanbic Bank Twenty20 series in November by his Matabeleland Tuskers' franchise team management when he started to complain about lower back pain. National team physiotherapist Amato Machikicho confirmed that despite all rehabilitation measures, Mpofu is still not fully fit for the tour.

"He [Mpofu] has had an MRI scan and an opinion from a specialist sports physician to the effect that he may resume training and use any possible pain as an indicator of his progress. Unfortunately Chris's lower back pain has recurred on the eve of the start of camp. As a result Chris will no longer be a part of the camp and pending further advice from his specialist, he will miss the tour as well," Machikicho said.

The national selectors have now called Tendai Chatara of Mountaineers to replace Mpofu in the squad.

Meanwhile Zimbabwe team captain Brendan Taylor is already in New Zealand exercising his trade for Wellington Cricket Club in the HRV CupTwenty20 cup. The skipper has had a positive start to his New Zealand domestic cricket campaign. He is currently the highest run-scorer for Wellington with an unbeaten century among his 175 runs from four matches at an average of 58.38 runs.

Head coach Alan Butcher is expecting a highly competitive team performance after some very aggressive and brave performances in Zimbabwe's last Test match against New Zealand in Bulawayo in 2011.

"I hope our performance in the last Test will give us the belief that we can beat New Zealand, and not feel like we are massively underdogs. We will be underdogs, yes, but we will not be inferior to our opponents. Not having Chris Mpofu is quite a blow ? he has been consistent in the last couple of months. We have [Brian] Vitori back and look to compete at a level footing so are not a depleted side at all," Butcher said at a training session at Harare Sports Club.

The Squad

Brendan Taylor, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Graeme Cremer, Kyle Jarvis, Hamilton Masakadza, Shingirai Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Tinotenda Mawoyo, Keegan Meth, Forster Mutizwa, Njabulo Ncube, Raymond Price, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, and Malcolm Waller.