Ziehl: Taylor, Sibanda, Williams will not be selected for upcoming tour

Posted by brmtaylor.com admin on September 26, 2008

Zimbabwe's touring squad will be very depleted without the services of Brendan Taylor, Vusi Sibanda and Sean Williams. While Taylor's absense was already well documented, and Sibanda's is due to injury, the reasons for Sean Williams' unavailability are much more concerning.

The Independent learnt that Williams is considering a move to South Africa in order to play for the Johannesburg based Highveld Lions, although hopes that any such contract would include a clause that allows him to play for the Zimbabwe national team.

Vusi Sibanda has resumed light training with the squad, although he has not fully recovered from hip damage. Brendan Taylor is still in England playing for the Lashings club, although the board was quick to point out that he is still eligible for selection despite not signing a contract.

The following 18 man preliminary squad will be cut down to 15 later today, with Johnson Marumisa, Bonaparte Mujuru and Trevor Garwe looking to be the likely omissions considering Taurai Muzarabani and Graeme Cremers' recent Zimbabwe selection: Prosper Utseya (captain), Stuart Matsikenyeri, Ray Price, Tatenda Taibu, Hamilton Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura, Tawanda Mupariwa, Chris Mpofu, Chamu Chibhabha, Keith Dabengwa, Graeme Cremer, Edward Rainsford, Regis Chakabva, Timycen Maruma, Taurai Muzarabani, Johnson Marumisa, Bonaparte Mujuru, Trevor Garwe.

The most surprising selection is Ed Rainsford, know had fallen out of favour with the selectors after the 2007 World Cup.

"In the long-term (the availability of) Taylor and Williams is subject to discussion. But Zimbabwe is for Zimbabweans. They are young and a bit immature and I hope they will soon realise that home is home.", Kenyon Ziehl, the head of the selection committee told the Independent, "It will be generally a one-day side, but if someone is to do well in the Twenty20 and gets selected, he can always be useful in the ODIs in Kenya if we need someone who can hit over the top in the first 10 overs or so."

Kenyon Ziehl was one of three white tobacco farmers arrested in a raid on Rusape farms late last year.

The unavailability of Williams would indicate that Tatenda Taibu and Hamilton Masakadza will open the batting with Chamu Chibhabha returning to the number 3 batting position.

Likely ODI XI: Taibu, Masakadza, Chibhabha, Chakabva, Matsikenyeri, Chigumbura, Dabengwa, Utseya, Price, Mpofu, Mupariwa

Likely Twenty20 XI: Taibu, Masakadza, Dabengwa, Matsikenyeri, Chigumbura, Chibhabha, Utseya, Price, Muzarabani, Mupariwa