Zimbabwe announce squad for the ICC U19 World Cup 2018

Zimbabwe has announced their squad for the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2018. The popular tournament which saw the rise of many talented cricketers will be held in New Zealand from 13 January to 3rd February 2018. Zimbabwe U19 coach Stephen Mangonogo came out with his 15-men squad, led by Liam Roche, at a press conference which took place at the Harare Sports Club.

Apart from the promising names, five reserves were also named on Friday. The coach said that they zeroed down to the final squad following a two-year programme that included trails, training camps and tours to Malaysia, South Africa, India, Namibia and Australia.

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“The boys have had a long journey which started with 88 boys from the 10 provinces and the two-year programme has been very intense and rigorous,” he said. “It is an honour to have worked with such kind of boys who cherish and have a dream to eventually represent their nation at the highest level. These boys are living a dream and hopefully in a few years’ time, or a few months’ time, we will see some of them graduating into higher levels of cricket.” Mangongo also took the opportunity to credit Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) for giving him the desired facility and everything else that he requested to make sure the team gets ready for the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup tournament”.

“As the coach, I would like to thank ZC because this had never happened that an Under-19 side goes through such rigorous preparations,” he said. Zimbabwe finished 10th at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2016 in Bangladesh, but the coach is confident of a good show in the upcoming global event. “We are definitely looking to ensure we keep improving because these boys eventually must take Zimbabwe to the promised land. It’s not an option for us to go backwards,” he said.

ZIMBABWE SQUAD FOR ICC UNDER-19 CRICKET WORLD CUP:

Liam Roche (C), Gregory Dollar, Donald Mlambo, Tanunurwa Makoni, Jayden Schadendorf, Milton Shumba, Alistair Frost, Dion Myers, Nkosilatu Nunu, Jonathan Conolly, Wesley Madhevere, Kieran Robinson, Robert Chimhinya, Tinashe Nenhunzi, Taun Harrison.

Reserves:

Marshall Takodza, Dane Schadendorf, Tawanda Muyeye, Dion Mazhawidza, Struan Moore-Gordon