PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Beleaguered West Indies will try to rise above their vexing recent tour Down Under when they face minnows Zimbabwe in a one-off Twenty20 International here today.
Demoralised by the Aussies after being whitewashed in both the one-day and the Twenty20 series, the hosts have a chance to revive themselves in the 2 pm contest at the Queen’s Park Oval.
Denesh Ramdin, who will lead the side in the absence of the rested Chris Gayle, said he was confident his charges could put up a good showing despite the ragged stuff against Australia.
The match, a precursor to the five-match One-Day International series against Zimbabwe, will be a new beginning of sorts for West Indies as it represents Gibson’s first game in charge of the side he once played for.
Also, it is the first international of the home series which includes the Twenty20 World Cup and the Test tour by South Africa later in the year.
Zimbabwe currently only play the shorter forms of the game after their Test status was suspended four years ago.
SQUADS:
WEST INDIES – Denesh Ramdin (captain), Adrian Barath, Sulieman Benn, David Bernard, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Andre Fletcher, Nikita Miller, Kieron Pollard, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Dwayne Smith.
ZIMBABWE – Prosper Utseya (captain), Hamilton Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura, Charles Coventry, Graeme Cremer, Kyle Jarvis, Greg Lamb, Timycen Maruma, Shingirai Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Chris Mpofu, Ray Price, Vusi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu, Brendan Taylor.