Story by Lawrence Trusida
Leg spinner, Vincent Masekesa and batsman Nicholas Welch have been rewarded for their good form on the domestic scene after being named in the Chevrons squad set to face Ireland in a Test match early next month.
Zimbabwe is set to face Ireland in multi-format series that will commence with a one-off test match set for 6th to the 10th of February at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
The action will then move to Harare Sports Club for the white-ball leg, featuring three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) followed by three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
Fresh from a disappointing series against Afghanistan, the Chevrons selectors have rewarded on form players on the domestic circuit after including two new faces, 27-year-old leg-spinner Vincent Masekesa and 26-year-old top-order batter Nicholas Welch.
Masekesa is the fourth highest wicket taker on the domestic scene with 51 wickets just behind established internationals Blessing Muzarabani and Brandon Mavuta.
Welch on the other hand is the second highest run getter this season, averaging 41 runs in 33 innings having scored over 1375 runs.
The duo take the places of struggling all-rounder, Dion Myers and Tadiwanashe Marumani, who is struggling to impose himself in cricket’s longest format.
Veteran all-rounder, Sikandar Raza has been omitted from the test squad, as he had already committed to franchise cricket before the tour schedule was confirmed.
Seasoned all-rounder Sean Williams, who was struggling with a back injury during the recent Test series against Afghanistan, is back to give the Chevrons a major boost.
Elsewhere, the ODI squad sees two changes, with Wessly Madhevere making a comeback together with Nyasha Mayavo to take the places of Dion Myers and Joylord Gumbie.
Myers has however, retained his place in the T20I squad, which includes Johnathan Campbell, Tony Munyonga and Mayavo.
Faraz Akram and Takudzwanashe Kaitano have missed out on T20I selection.
