Zimbabwe Cricket 🤔
If this Facebook post is true, ZC are sending 8 promising "young" cricketers to Smart Qalanders High Performance Centre for an intensive 5 week training camp.
Among the promising "young" cricketers:
Joylord Gumbie (30 almost 31)
Tanunurwa Makoni (26 almost 27)
Ashley Mufandauya (24 almost 25)
Given that Zimbabwe can't afford to waste scarce resources, I have a few questions:
1. What exactly is the objective of this programme? Is it a youth-development programme, an emerging-player programme or specialised high-performance training for players already considered close to the national side?
2. What were the selection criteria for the eight players, and who selected them?
3. If this is genuinely a programme for "promising young cricketers", why are places being allocated to players who are 24, 26 and 30 years old rather than to younger players in Zimbabwe's Under-19 and emerging-player pathways?
4. Tanunurwa Makoni was already one of the eight Zimbabwean players sent to the Qalandars High Performance Centre for four months in 2023. What were the measurable outcomes of that investment, and why has he been selected for another stint three years later?
5. More broadly, what measurable return did Zimbabwe Cricket obtain from the 2023 Qalandars programme? Which players improved sufficiently to progress towards international cricket, and how was that improvement assessed?
6. What specific development target has been identified for each of these eight players, and how will ZC determine at the end of the five weeks whether this programme has actually succeeded?
7. Finally, how do they... arrrggh f**k it. Why am I wasting my time?
Discussion
ZC Sending "Promising Young Cricketers" to Pakistan
Discussion
ModZCF OriginalVeteran
At best they are making better domestic cricketers.
I am assuming Gumbie is there due to the wicket keeper stocks being low.
In an ideal world, the academy would be playing more matches against domestic and other teams.
You pick the three best there and every franchise can nominate one player.
I am assuming Gumbie is there due to the wicket keeper stocks being low.
In an ideal world, the academy would be playing more matches against domestic and other teams.
You pick the three best there and every franchise can nominate one player.
Member actions
ShareVeteran
Any info on who are the players being sent?
Apart from these three?
Apart from these three?
Zimbabwe fan, long time lurker on the old ZCF
Member actions
ShareAdminLegend
Quoted from dandy in post #46593
Any info on who are the players being sent?
Apart from these three?
I only saw four in the Facebook post. The three mentioned above plus Ryan Kamwemba.
The only other article I have been able to find on the story is this UrduPoint article. Easy to translate with AI.
It confirms that eight Zimbabwean players have arrived at the Smart Qalandars High Performance Centre in Islamabad for a five-week specialised training camp, but annoyingly doesn't name any of the eight.
Interestingly, the article also says that the wider ZC/Qalandars exchange programme is intended to provide "young cricketers" from both countries with modern training, experience and better opportunities to develop their abilities.
Quoted from Andy31 in post #46592
I am assuming Gumbie is there due to the wicket keeper stocks being low.
Possibly, but Gumbie wasn't even keeping regularly for Mountaineers last season. Spencer Magodo was their red-ball keeper for much of the season, and Matthew Welch has also kept in white-ball cricket.
I'm really struggling to think of a convincing explanation for Gumbie's selection here, especially if this is genuinely being treated as a development programme for young or emerging players.
Quoted from Andy31 in post #46592
At best they are making better domestic cricketers.
In 2023, ZC sent the following eight players to the Qalandars High Performance Centre for four months:
- Tinotenda Maposa
- Tawanda Maposa
- Tanunurwa Makoni
- Marshal Takodza
- Brighton Phiri
- Lennox Chando
- Davis Marwendo
- Alex Falao
It would be interesting to go back and look at how much those eight actually improved after four months at the centre and what return ZC got from that investment.
Interesting that Makoni's going there for seconds. I wonder why? 😂
Did ZC and Qalandars see enough improvement after his first stint to decide that further investment in him was worthwhile? Were there specific weaknesses identified afterwards that they believe another five weeks can address? Or did the original four-month programme simply not produce the development they expected? Or is it because he is related to... nevermind 😂
ZCF Admin
Member actions
Share
ZCF OriginalLegend
It’s not strange at all 😂😂 it’s typical ZC. There is obviously some howler selection they’re keeping under wraps.
Member actions
ShareModZCF OriginalVeteran
Quoted from Pat_Bee in post #46598
It’s not strange at all 😂😂 it’s typical ZC. There is obviously some howler selection they’re keeping under wraps.
lol
“ Sir a second Makoni has entered Pakistan”
Member actions
ShareModZCF OriginalZCF Hall of Famer
What could our players learn in Pakistan? Pakistan isn't exactly churning out world class batters or bowlers these days.
My All-time Zimbabwe XI
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani
Neil Johnson, Brendan Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), David Houghton, Sean Williams, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Paul Strang, Eddo Brandes, Blessing Muzarabani
Member actions
ShareThese players are all there on merit and are the future of our cricket moving forward. Coach Justin Sammons and David Mutendera have identified these players based on performances in domestic cricket. Coltart, Alistair Campbell and their loyal Rhodesian foot soldiers cannot gate keep cricket as an elitist white sport forever.
Member actions
ShareModZCF OriginalVeteran
Could you name the players.
Feel like any info comes out in dribs and drabs.
Feel like any info comes out in dribs and drabs.
Member actions
ShareModZCF OriginalVeteran
Quoted from Zolsky1 in post #46658
These players are all there on merit and are the future of our cricket moving forward. Coach Justin Sammons and David Mutendera have identified these players based on performances in domestic cricket. Coltart, Alistair Campbell and their loyal Rhodesian foot soldiers cannot gate keep cricket as an elitist white sport forever.
Could you name the players.
Feel like any info comes out in dribs and drabs.
Member actions
Share