In addition to the young Zimbabwean team getting ready to play India in a five-match Twenty20 International series that starts in a few days, Zimbabwe Cricket has announced the appointment of Charl Langeveldt as their new bowling coach.
In addition to his bowling background, Langeveldt is a very experienced coach. During his nine-year career, he amassed 133 wickets for South Africa in 87 matches of all formats. He has also had coaching positions as a bowling coach for Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and the Proteas (two separate terms).
The Mhishi Committee of Inquiry, which was formed to investigate the team’s inability to qualify for the recently finished T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies, approved the selections.
Langeveldt’s most recent stint with an international squad ended after the end of the ODI World Cup in India last year, having played for Afghanistan.
As the fielding coach, Stuart Matsikenyeri, a former Zimbabwean batter who was named temporary head coach prior to Justin Sammons’ permanent appointment as head coach, remains an essential member of the coaching team.
The backroom team will also be strengthened by two South Africans, Ravish Gobind and Curtly Diesel, who will assume the positions of strength and conditioning coach and strategic performance coach, respectively.
Only eleven days after their series with India ended, Zimbabwe will play a one-off Test against Ireland. After an 18-month break, Zimbabwe will play its first match under the longest format.
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The two berths that were up for grabs from the November 2023 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifier 2023 were narrowly missed by a nearly full-strength Zimbabwean squad; Namibia and Uganda took those spots and barred Zimbabwe from competing in the T20 World Cup 2024. They would be excited to get back on track and establish their competitive advantage under Langeveldt’s direction and that of his coaching team.