Zimbabwe to host Sri Lanka for two tests in hastily arranged tour

Sri Lanka's cricket coach Mickey Arthur (R) walks as team players stretch during a practice session ahead of their second test match with Pakistan at the National Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan December 17, 2019. REUTERS

HARARE (Reuters): Zim-babwe have announced a hastily arranged tour by Sri Lanka for two test matches to be played in Harare this month as coach Lalchand Rajput says they are ready for a “new beginning”.

The first game at the Harare Sports Club will be played from 19-23 January and the second from 27-31 January, and represents a return to test cricket for Zimbabwe for the first time since their tour of Bangladesh in November 2018. 

Zimbabwe are not part of the on-going ICC Test Championship and so no points will be up for grabs in the series.

“Sri Lanka are always a very competitive team who have been playing well and I am looking forward to the Test series,” Rajput said in a statement from Zimbabwe Cricket.

“For us, it’s a new beginning, a new chapter, and it’s good that we are starting off with the long version which always brings the best out of players.

“We know our home conditions better, our players are getting match-fit and enjoying some game time. So all we have to do is to get in the middle and perform. “We have not had much game time, so the players will be very keen and eager to seize this opportunity and do well.”

Zimbabwe have confirmed that all-rounder Sean Williams will be their new test captain following the retirement of Hamilton Masakadza, who has since moved into the role of director of cricket.

Former Zimbabwe international David Mutendera has been named as the new convener of selectors, joining Gavin Ewing, Shepherd Makunura and Prosper Utseya on the panel.