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ZIMBABAWE Cricket has contracted 44 players for the 2008/9 season, and conspicuous by his absence is star wicketkeeper/batsman Brendan Taylor.
ZC has retained its entire pool of players from last season and given them two-year contracts, with an official revealing Taylor left for England at the end of the 2007/8 season without concluding talks for a new deal, which effectively rules him out of the Zimbabwe team for the New Year. ZC has also revealed it has abandoned its traditional grading system, which had classified players according to their value to the team thereby dictating their remuneration and perks. The organisation also announced Prosper Utseya has been retained as captain for the new season, adding former paceman Douglas Hondo was their number one choice to assist recently appointed national team coach Walter Chawaguta. Trevor Mutangadura — ZC general manager cricket affairs — told Standardsport they had fulfilled their quota of contracted players for the 2008/9 season, which does not include Taylor, one of Zimbabwe’s most promising players in recent years. He said the grading system had been abandoned to instill a "sense of teamwork and discourage individualism" in the squad. Zimbabwean cricketers were under a grading system with national team players being awarded Central Contracts, which were split into A, B and C, while those under provincial deals were under D, E and F. But under the new system, players would be under a blanket contract regime, albeit which recognizes each player’s seniority and value to the side. "By doing away with the old grading system ZC seeks to encourage teamwork rather than individualism, and the new system should bring about a unity of purpose that would otherwise not be possible in the old order. But players will still be evaluated taking into account their old status with ZC as of last season, and they will be under contract for the next two years," Mutangadura said. "Brendan Taylor left for England without signing a contract with ZC, that is why he is not in the squad for the 2008/9 season." Taylor was one of Zimbabwe’s star players of the past season, with his heroics largely responsible for Zimbabwe’s sensational win over Australia at the inaugural 2007 ICC World Twenty20 Championship, in South Africa. His departure from the Zimbabwe fold coincides with that of former coach Robin Brown, who has since been replaced by former under-19 coach Walter Chawaguta. Meanwhile, ZC has set sights on bringing back former pace bowler Douglas Hondo as assistant coach. "Walter has been asked to choose his assistant and he has indicated that he would like to work with Douglas Hondo, and ZC are in the process of trying to engage the former player at his England base. The two of them were in Australia recently under a ZC development programme at Cricket Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Adelaide," Mutangadura added. ZC contracted players 2008/9 Prosper Utseya (captain), Tatenda Taibu, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Hamilton Masakadza, Vusimusi Sibanda, Tawanda Mupariwa, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Keith Dabengwa, Raymond Price, Christopher Mpofu, Elton Chigumbura, Sean Williams, Edward Rainsford, Tinotenda Mawoyo, Timycen Maruma, Graeme Creamer, Taurai Muzarabani, Johnson Marumisa, Regis Chakabva, Friday Kasteni, Blessing Mahwire, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Alestair Maregwede, Eric Chauluka, Trevor Garwe, Admire Manyumwa, Steady Musoso, Alois Tichana, Patient Charumbira, Prosper Tsvanhu, Silent Mujaji, Philimoen Kadzitye, Samuel Mwakayeni, Forster Mutizwa, Mbekezili Mabuza, Bonaparte Mujuru, Michael Chinouya, Bothwell Chapungu, Tinashe Hove, Tendai Chisoro, Remembrance Nyathi, Stephen Nyamuzinga, Cephas Zhuwao, Bernard Mlambo. By Lloyd Mutungamiri
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