Sports
Important for young Zimbabwe side to brush shoulders against world's top players: Tino Mawoyo
New Delhi, July 5 (IANS) While India are eyeing to build a team for the future following last month’s T20 World Cup triumph, Zimbabwe are also looking for a fresh start and rebuild their team after failing to qualify for the recent global event.
The 2024 T20 World Cup was the fourth ICC senior men’s event Zimbabwe have missed since 2019. Tino Mawoyo, the former Zimbabwe cricketer, speaks exclusively to IANS in a conversation facilitated by Sony Sports Network on the side’s rebuilding quest, fresh and recalled players, captain Sikandar Raza and more.
Excerpts:
Q. Pretty much like India, Zimbabwe are also on the road to building a team for the future. In that context, how much crucial is this series from a Zimbabwe perspective against a new-look Indian team?
A. It’s massive, and first of all, kudos to BCCI who have been very supportive of Zimbabwe cricket. There was an India team that was here a couple of years ago. They’re back again soon after the T20 World Cup. So, even though it doesn’t have all of the experienced players in it, it’s important for the young Zimbabwean side, especially to be able to brush shoulders against some of the top players in the world.
We’ve seen how well they’ve all done during the IPL and the majority of the guys on this trip have been selected majorly on the back of their IPL performances. So, it’s important in particular for those young Indian players to be able to learn as much as they can.
If you look at our side, we definitely have a few young players who have been on the side before, have shown that they’ve got potential at international level. So, a platform like this is wonderful for them to go on and show what they can do.
Q. Zimbabwe has made wholesale changes to their coaching staff – Justin Sammons, Dion Ebrahim and Charl Langeveldt have come on board. How decisive are their roles going to be in rebuilding this Zimbabwe team?
A. The changes in coaching staff are massive. Justin Sammons, of course, in his first ever role as a full-time coach, worked under Mark Boucher with the Proteas. But we had him when I was still an international cricketer a good eight years ago. We worked with him in Zimbabwe as well. He was with the South African Under-19s, and did quite well at the World Cup.
So, he’s got some experience at this level, and to bring some fresh blood in is really important. We can’t hide from the fact that the last six or eight months have been rather disappointing for Zimbabwe in terms of the results they’ve put in.
The failure to qualify at home for the 50-over World Cup, and then the T20 World Cup failure in Namibia has really dented the spirits of Zimbabwe cricket fans in particular. But I think this is a new start, and a new slate. Younger players have been selected and are being given an opportunity now, which bodes well for the ways Zimbabwe cricket is going now.
You’ve seen that a lot of experienced players have been left out like Ryan Burl, and Craig Ervine, who’s been white-ball captain before. Sean Williams was left out in Bangladesh and decided to retire from this format of the game. So all the new young blood that’s coming in, we hope they will take Zimbabwe cricket in the right direction.
We’re hosting the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup and we need to start working now for building a team that’ll be competitive in that tournament. Dion Ibrahim will come in and help on the batting side as well as a former national team player. He knows what it’s like to play for Zimbabwe at international level. All of this really bodes well – a fresh, young, vibrant coaching setup as well as the change in team personnel.
Q. Antum Naqvi has been literally making waves ever since he hit that triple century in the Logan Cup. Though his inclusion status is still unclear due to confirmation of his citizenship status, can you talk about what he possesses which can make him capture attention of international cricket arena?
A. Antum has played a couple of first-class seasons in Zimbabwe. I didn’t have an opportunity to see him the first time around. But I wanted to see for myself what all the craze was about. I watched and followed him a lot in his second season last year. For me, he possesses outstanding temperament. He’s got a wonderful attitude towards the game, and is constantly in the nets.
He’s constantly working on his fitness, and has got a great relationship with his father who’s somebody urging him on really well in his career so far. They’re always in the nets, and always working together. But just from what I’ve seen from Antum, he’s a very well-grounded, and down-to-earth young man.
I’m not surprised by the successes that he’s had domestically in Zimbabwe. But of course, we do need to remember that’s only domestic cricket in Zimbabwe. International cricket, in particular, against the world champions is a different story.
For me, I have no doubt that he will have a successful career as long as he maintains what I’ve seen so far. We just hope that if he does get an opportunity in this India tour, he has a great start to his T20 international career in Zimbabwe colours.
Q. Sikandar Raza has been Zimbabwe’s captain for some time. But with 2026 T20 World Cup and 2027 ODI World Cup being far off, do you believe Zimbabwe should look to get a new captain, considering Raza is 38 currently?
A. Well, I believe that Sikandar Raza will most definitely be available if Zimbabwe qualify for the World Cup in two years’ time. I think they can start to look for a new leader because we’re talking about a younger side now and have new blood coming in. Even if he’s still in the side, maybe Zimbabwe can start to look for a successor for Sikandar Raza in this format anyway.
But other than him being 38 and getting on a bit, he’s still one of the fittest cricketers that we’ve got. He’s playing in almost every league around the world at the moment, and continues to keep churning out runs, and be performing, like he took an outstanding catch recently in the UK as well.
So he’s really doing well for himself – still at that age and very fit. I have no doubt about his fitness, and I believe that even the 2027 ODI World Cup, as long as he keeps himself fit, he’ll still be able to play a role. If you look at Zimbabwe’s results over the last two-three years and look at their successes, majority of the time Sikandar Raza is the one who’s contributed heavily with the bat.
Plus, he’s started to do that with the ball as well, so he’s an important cog. He’s not somebody that Zimbabwe can afford not to have in the starting lineup at the moment, as well as in the next couple of years.
Q. From the fresh and recalled faces in the Zimbabwe line-up, who you think the fans should keep a watch out for?
A. I will go back to Wesley Madhevere. Of course, he was falling out of favour with the selectors in last couple of tours. But he’s worked extremely hard in his game and with him coming back into the side, I’m super excited about him.
We’ve had struggles at the top of the order for Zimbabwe perennially in all three formats. But I think Wesley has a role to play for us, in particular while opening the batting. I know he’s scored most of his runs at number six, but I think he’s the ideal man to open the batting for us in T20 cricket. He plays with a lot of freedom, and expresses himself.
In those first six overs, he’s somebody who can get us off to a good start. Brian Bennett is another one who’s really impressed me. Got a few runs up the order in the T20Is against Sri Lanka in Colombo in January, and then got that wonderful knock which got Zimbabwe over the line in Bangladesh in the final T20I. So he’s definitely another one to look out for.
Clive Madande, who you might have seen in the last couple of years, has got really comfortable into his middle order batting role, and he’s one definitely for the future. Dion Myers is another one who’s played some international cricket for Zimbabwe a few years ago. He went away to the UK, concentrated on his studies and he’s done with that now to be a part of this India squad as well.
So I’m really looking forward to some great performances from those four. I believe they are the future of the Zimbabwean top to middle order, and in years to come, as long as Zimbabwe have got them scoring runs, then definitely the batting woes that they had over the last few periods should be addressed by those.
Q. Anyone from the Indian team who you think Zimbabwe will be really wary of?
A. Most definitely, the captain (Shubman Gill). He was here a couple of years ago, and scored plenty of runs. I also think the captain not having a run in the T20 World Cup, it will keep him hungry and want him to go out there and really stamp his authority.
Plus, he would be eager to show that he can lead a young, fresh Indian side as well, as he’s one that India are looking for to lead the team in the future. This tour in particular is a great opportunity for him to do that. I also think Yashasvi Jaiswal as well is one to watch out for.
Q. During the 2022 series, there was a great electrifying vibe brought by the fans at the Harare Sports Club, especially in that thrilling third ODI. So, what do you think is there in the people who come over to Harare Sports Club there and make for a very electric vibe?
A. I’ll tell you what, Zimbabweans have a great love for sport, and they do have a great love for cricket in particular. As an administrator now, it makes me very happy to see the excitement the fans have. Even when Zimbabwe hasn’t done so well, they still come out in large numbers and enjoy themselves.
Over the last couple of years, I think we’ve given the crowd something to be happy and smile about at Harare Sports Club, bar probably the loss to Scotland in Bulawayo for the qualifiers in the Men’s 50-over World Cup and the Ireland tour in December that wasn’t so strong. But they’re an amazing bunch. I know some of them personally, and I know all the ideas and plans they’ve got already to come out in their fancy dress for this India tour.
They’re just a cricket-loving bunch; they travel with the team wherever they go in Zimbabwe. From me as well, just a huge thank you to them for their support. Zimbabwe cricket has been through a bit of a rough patch. But we definitely appreciate all the support that they give and all the jeering up they do for the team.
I’ve heard several teams in the last couple of years who visited Zimbabwe and said, ‘You know what, I haven’t been in an atmosphere that is so electrifying, daunting and nerve-wracking than Harare Sports Club when it’s on song. So hopefully, that noise can get behind the Zimbabweans and jeer them up for hopefully a couple of victories in the series.
India’s tour of Zimbabwe will be broadcasted live from July 6, 4:30 PM IST onwards, on Sony Sports Ten 5 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 SD & HD (Tamil & Telugu).
–IANS
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Bengaluru, Aug 22 (IANS) Shivamogga Lions’ woes continued as they suffered a 28-run defeat to the Mysore Warriors in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday.
Mysore Warriors delivered a well-rounded performance, anchored by Karun Nair’s (45) swift knock, supported by a few other good contributions in the middle order, and highlighted by late-innings fireworks from J Suchith (22*) and Manoj Bhandage (23).
On the bowling front, Vidyadhar Patil (3/29) and Karthik CA (3/31) played crucial roles in restricting the Shivamogga Lions. Sharath HS’ (4/29) lethal spell with the ball and valiant efforts from Abhinav Manohar (46) and Nihal Ullal (46) with the bat couldn’t turn the tide in Shivamogga’s favour.
Chasing 180, Shivamogga Lions got off to a disastrous start, with Vidyadhar Patil’s lethal first over leading to the dismissals of Mohith Bangalore (2) and Dheeraj Mohan (0) in consecutive deliveries. Skipper Nihal Ullal (46) managed to crack a few early boundaries, but Hardik Raj (17) was also removed by Krishnappa Gowtham, leaving the Lions reeling at 41/3 by the end of the powerplay.
K Gowtham then engineered the run out of Rohan Naveen (11), further denting the chase. The in-form Abhinav Manohar (Impact Player) joined Ullal, and the duo breathed life into the innings, putting together a 70-run partnership in just 43 balls.
However, Ullal fell short of his first half-century of the season, leaving the Shivamogga Lions at 123/5 in 15.1 overs. Manohar also narrowly missed his milestone, holing out to K Gowtham off Karthik CA. Manohar’s 26-ball knock included four sixes and three fours, adding valuable runs to the total.
Karthik CA struck again two deliveries later, dismissing Shivraj S and leaving the Lions in deep trouble. With 47 runs needed from the final 18 balls, Ashok D tried to keep the chase alive by smashing a six and a four off Vidyadhar Patil, but perished in the same over, effectively ending Shivamogga’s prospects. Shivamogga Lions finished at 151/9 in 20 overs, enduring their sixth consecutive loss.
Batting first, Mysore Warriors faced an early challenge as Sharath HS unleashed a menacing spell. He struck in the powerplay, dismissing Karthik SU (8), and then returned in the seventh over to remove CA Karthik (30), who smashed three sixes in a 34-run stand with Karun Nair (45) and Harshil Dharmani (0).
Nair continued in fine touch and peppered the boundary with six fours and two sixes during his 23-ball stay before falling to Ashok D in the 11th over.
Kishan Bedare (17) steered the innings, forming a 28-run partnership with Nair and adding another 29 runs with Sumit Kumar (28) before being caught and bowled by Bharath Dhuri, leaving the Warriors at 116/5 in 16.1 overs. The depth of Mysore’s batting lineup came to the fore as Manoj Bhandage and J Suchith launched a late assault.
Vasuki Koushik, tasked with the 18th over, began with a six and a four from Sumit Kumar. Bhandage then took charge, hammering three consecutive sixes off Koushik in the same over before falling as Sharath’s fourth wicket in the 19th ending a blistering 23-run cameo off just seven balls. J Suchith, carried on the momentum, smashing two sixes and a four in an 8-ball flurry, pushing the Mysore Warriors to a competitive 179/7 in their 20 overs.
Brief scores: Mysore Warriors 179 for 7 in 20 overs (Karthik CA 30, Karun Nair 45, Sumit Kumar 28; Sharath HS 4-29) beat Shivamogga Lions 151/9 in 20 overs (Nihal Ullal 46, Abhinav Manohar 46 runs; Vidyadhar Patil 3-29, Karthik CA 3-31) by 28 runs.
–IANS
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Castle Rock (Colorado), Aug 22 (IANS) Indian Americans Sahith Theegala and Akshay Bhatia who failed to make it to the Top-10 last week at the St Jude Championships, the first of the three Play-offs events, will be looking for a better showing as they move towards the finale at the Tour Championships after that.
Last week Hideki Matsuyama, after leading by five at one time, had to birdie the last two holes to win the St Jude Championships. He became the first Asian to win a Play-off event and it was his 10th PGA Tour win, the highest from the continent.
Last week Bhatia was T-12, Rai was T-16 and Theegala was way behind in T-46, but all three have entered the second of the three Play-offs events.
World No, 2 Xander Schauffele, a two-time Major winner in 2024, was tied second last week with Viktor Hovland, while World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was fourth last week, though World No. 3 Rory McIlroy had a poor week in T-68 place.
Among Asians Korea’s Si Woo Kim has all to play for at the BMW Championship, the second of three FedExCup Playoffs events, in Colorado this week, with two big goals providing the drive for him to step up his game.
The four-time PGA TOUR winner tees up at Castle Pines Golf Club with the intention of breaking into the top-30 of the FedExCup points list and qualify for the Playoffs Finale, the TOUR Championship next week. Kim is presently ranked 44th after last week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship.
A strong week is also required for Kim to keep alive his hopes of earning a spot in the International Team to face the U.S. Team in the Presidents Cup in Royal Montreal next month. Currently 14th on the team roster, the top-6 after this week’s BMW Championship will secure automatic spots, with captain Mike Weir naming six more picks after the TOUR Championship.
Compatriots Sungjae Im and Byeong Hun An, who are 10th and 15th respectively on the FedExCup rankings, are virtually assured of teeing up at the TOUR Championship, which will use a staggered-scoring format based on positions after this week.
Irrespective of how his week plays out, Kim is pleased to secure his top-50 status, which guarantees starts in all eight Signature tournaments next season.
–IANS
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New Delhi, Aug 22 (IANS) The packed schedule of men’s county cricket in 2025 will remain largely unchanged, despite concerns raised by the majority of players over the impact on their physical well-being.
According to a survey conducted by the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) earlier this season, more than 80 per cent of players expressed fears that the current schedule is too demanding and poses risks to their health.
However, despite these concerns, the 2025 schedule is set to continue as usual. Each county will still compete in a minimum of 14 County Championship matches, eight Metro Bank Cup fixtures, and 14 Vitality T20 Blast games. The changes for next season will be largely cosmetic, offering little relief for players concerned about the gruelling calendar.
The PCA has been advocating for adjustments that would spread out the T20 fixtures across the week, aiming to reduce tight turnarounds and introduce more consistent three-day breaks between Championship games.
“There’s definitely room for improvement in 2025 compared to 2024,” said Daryl Mitchell, the PCA’s interim chief executive, in an interview with ESPNcricinfo. “The schedule can definitely be managed better. Certainly, the Blast was very much looked at through a commercial lens, trying to squeeze as many games as possible into Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Utilizing the majority of the week is probably the way forward, trying to spread them out to give that time for recovery, travel, and preparation.”
The T20 Blast, in particular, has been the main point of debate when it comes to scheduling. The timing of the knockout stages has been a significant concern. In 2023, these stages were held immediately after the group matches in July, allowing counties to retain their overseas players. This year, however, the knockout stages will be pushed to September, giving clubs an extended six-week window to market and sell tickets for home quarter-finals.
While these adjustments offer slight improvements, the overall schedule remains packed, leaving many players apprehensive about how much more they can push themselves physically in the long term. Despite the calls for change, it appears that any significant reduction in the number of fixtures is unlikely in the future, with commercial considerations still driving much of the decision-making process around county cricket.
–IANS
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New Delhi, Aug 22 (IANS) After ending his T20I career with an elusive T20 World Cup title in Barbados, captain Rohit Sharma revealed that it was his dream to transform the team without thinking too much about the results.
Rohit-led Indian team ended the decade-long ICC title drought after beating South Africa in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 to lift their second title in the format. In 2023, the Men in Blue failed to win the World Test Championship and 2023 ODI World Cup under Rohit’s leadership after losing to Australia in the finals.
The swashbuckling opening batter also credited the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah, former head coach Rahul Dravid and chief selector Ajit Agarkar for their support in transforming the team and creating a fearless culture in the squad.
“It was my dream to transform this team and not worry too much about stats and results and also to make sure that we create an environment where people can go out and play freely, without thinking too much. I got a lot of help from my three pillars Jay Shah, Rahul Dravid and chairman of selector Ajit Agarkar. That was critical for me to do what I did. Obviously, not to forget players who came in at different points in time and helped the team to achieve what we have achieved today,” Rohit said in a video posted by BCCI on X.
On Wednesday, Rohit was awarded ‘Men’s International Cricketer of the Year’ while Dravid was accorded the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at Ceat Cricket Rating Awards 2023-24 in Mumbai. India’s batting stalwart Virat Kohli was named the ‘Men’s ODI Batter of the Year’ while on the bowling front, Mohammed Shami was awarded the ‘ODI Bowler of the Year’.
The 37-year-old batter finished as the second-highest run-getter in the T20 World Cup with 257 runs including three half-centuries and at a strike rate of 156.70. He played a major role in providing solid starts for the team on the slow pitches of the USA and the West Indies.
After lifting the title, Rohit joined Kohli to announce his retirement from the T20I. With 4,231 runs, Rohit is the leading run-getter in the format behind his teammate Kohli (4188 runs). Both batters will continue to play the other formats of the game. The duo last featured for India in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka earlier this month.
–IANS
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Gotemba (Japan), Aug 22 (IANS) A year after being the youngest ever to make the cut at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, Kartik Singh, now 14 years of age, is the highest ranked among the four Indians set to take part in the 15th AAC to be held in Japan.
As of date Kartik is the highest ranked Indian at 199 while the other three players to have received the invitation for this prestigious event are Krishnav Nikhil Chopra and Vedant Sirohi, both past participants in the event and Rakshit Dahiya will be in the four-player team.
Kartik Singh has also been named to the 2024 Junior Presidents Cup team. A regular winner in junior and amateur events, Kartik will spearhead the Indian challenge.
Apart from India’s Kartik Singh, there are seven others named to the 2024 Junior Presidents Cup International Team. They are Joshua Bai, Warut Boonrod, Xihuan Chang, Rayhan Latief, Khanh Hung Le, Thangwin Lee, Anh Minh Ngyuyen,
As many as 113 players have been confirmed for the Championship, which will be held October 3-6, 2024, at Taiheiyo Club Gotemba in Gotemba, Japan. A full list of confirmed players can be found. The field will be 120 with a few more names to be added by the Organisers.
India’s best ever placing has been second place by Rayhan Thomas, who was runner-up in Sentosa, Singapore in 2018. The Dubai-based Indian Rayhan has since turned professional, and last week won his first pro title on India’s Professional Tour of India Tour.
Krishnav, who plays college golf in the US, is the son of former India cricketer turned commentator, Nikhil Chopraa, who often takes the role of a caddie for his son.
Created in 2009, the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship was established by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), The R&A and the Masters Tournament to further develop amateur golf in the Asia-Pacific region.
The champion will receive an invitation to compete in the 2025 Masters Tournament and The 153rd Open, while the runner(s)-up will gain a place in Final Qualifying for The Open.
The confirmed list which has players from 38 APGC member organizations is highlighted by defending champion Jasper Stubbs of Australia and four players representing China inside the top 100 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking: Wenyi Ding (No. 4), Xihuan Chang (No. 36), Xiangyun Bai (No. 61) and Paul Chang (No. 97).
Ding finished runner-up to Stubbs in the 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur while Xihuan Chang reached the semi-finals of the U.S. Junior Amateur in July.
Other top-100 participants include Vietnam’s Anh Minh Nguyen (No. 68) and Japan’s Rintaro Nakano (No. 78).
Notable past competitors include 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, a two-time winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur, and 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith. Over the Championship’s 14-year history, the Championship has served as a springboard to some of the world’s top players, including Matsuyama, Smith, Cameron Davis, Ryan Fox, Si Woo Kim, Satoshi Kodaira, Kyoung-Hoon Lee, Min Woo Lee, Keita Nakajima and C.T. Pan. Collectively, alumni of the Asia-Pacific Amateur have gone on to win 27 tournaments on the PGA Tour to date and more than 130 across the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.
As the host nation, Japan will lead the list of up to 43 APGC member nations represented with 10 players in this year’s field. A player from Japan has won four of the 14 editions of the Championship (Matsuyama/2010, 2011; Takumi Kanaya/2018; Nakajima/2021).
–IANS
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