Injury ravaged Zimbabwe Senior Women’s cricket team’s depth in cricket will once again be under the spotlight as the defending champions take on Uganda in the semifinal of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier Africa in Botswana today.
The Lady Chevrons have been hit by injuries to key players and have replaced Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano and Christabel Chatonzwa with Pelajia Mujaji and Nyasha Gwanzura. Modester Mupachikwa has remained with the team despite also suffering a hamstring injury.
However, in their 52-run victory over Rwanda in their final group game on Thursday, Zimbabwe showed depth with Chiedza Dhururu finding form after she replaced Mupachikwa at the top of the order, which impressed the head coach Adama Chifo.
“Against Rwanda today (yesterday), I thought we applied ourselves well in all departments. We had a good start with the bat (Ashley) Ndiraya and Dhururu rising to the occasion together with a good performance from Mary-Anne, the captain,” said Chifo to EnterSportNews.
“We definitely miss Chipo and Modester up in the order, but we equally have good batters who are still capable of delivering, and that’s what they did today (yesterday).”
The match against Rwanda was always intriguing because it is coached by former Zimbabwe and Namibia coach Leonard Nhamburo. However, the truth is that the East African country is still way behind Zimbabwe in terms of personnel and development. It was not much of a surprise that the Lady Chevrons made light work of Rwanda.
Their clash against Uganda, who have won this tournament, will genuinely test Zimbabwe, and Chifo is aware of that but will not be risking Mupachikwa if she is not fully fit.
“We are still assessing Mupachikwa’s injury, but we will definitely not be taking a risk if she’s not in good shape,” said Chico.
Chico is confident that the team will conquer Uganda and go to the final if every department clicks.
“We will be facing Uganda who came second in Group B, and regarding preparation, we will approach them with the same plan we have had in the other matches, that of applying ourselves in all departments, and we know once we do that, we will come through,” he said.
“We have the skills, and we believe in every one of us who has been called to the task.”
