The Zimbabwe squad for the first ODI against Bangladesh in Sylhet stole some attention from the actual match Sunday, as batting coach Stuart Matsikenyeri was named on the team sheet.
The Zimbabwe team management was forced to include Matsikenyeri at the last minute, writing his name by hand, as the unavailability of two players in the 15-member squad left them short of concussion substitutes.
Craig Ervine, who stood in as captain in the one-off Test in Dhaka, was unfit on the day as he was suffering from breathing problems and was taken to a hospital for treatment. On the other hand, regular Zimbabwe captain Sean Williams failed to reach Sylhet in time to join up with the squad.
An individual named Hamidur Rahman (32) was arrested from the Grand Stand at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium for improper behavior towards @BCBtigers opener @TamimOfficial28.https://t.co/9Ron21halx#TAMIMIQBAL #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #BANGLADESHCRICKET #BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) March 1, 2020
Williams has been on leave for personal reasons and was scheduled to join the Zimbabwe team ahead of the three-match ODI series after missing the lone Test.
The unavailability of the two players did not stop Zimbabwe from naming a playing XI, but both players left on the bench were bowlers - left-arm spinner Ainsley Ndlovu and right-arm pacer Charlton Tshuma. As per ICC rules, concussion substitutes need to be like-for-like and Zimbabwe needed a batsman, so the 36-year-old Matsikenyeri was included.
Matsikenyeri has played 33 matches against Bangladesh in 131 international matches for Zimbabwe across all formats. He has not played any internationals since the ICC World Cup 2015 and went into coaching after retirement.
