Nkala in Zimbabwe team for first ODI

After squaring the two Test series at Harare on June 18, a confident Zimbabwe team looks forward to a competitive triangular one-day series. The Coca Cola Cup pits India, Zimbabwe and West Indies against each other. The West Indies team, coming off a bit of a slump, have started off well, winning the first warm up game against the CFX Academy by six runs. The skipper of the resurgent Caribbean side Carl Hooper stated emphatically in the media that they had specific plans that would enable them to tackle the threats that their two opponents posed.

Meanwhile, hosts Zimbabwe on Tuesday named a 13-member squad for the first clash of the tourney, between the hosts and West Indies on June 23. Mluleki Nkala is the only change from the side that beat India in the second Test. He replaces injured fast bowler Brighton Watambwa. Andy Flower who dislocated his thumb in the Test match is expected to be fit in time for the first match. The Zimbabwe Cricket Union have decided to play it safe and announced that promising young stumper Tatenda Taibu would don the gloves if Flower was ruled medically unfit.

Dirk Viljoen and David Mutendera, who were on the fringe of selection for the Tests have been named 12th and 13th men respectively.

The team: Heath Streak (Captain), Guy Whittall (Vice-Captain), Andy Blignaut, Alistair Campbell, Stuart Carlisle, Dion Ebrahim, Andrew Flower, Grant Flower, Travis Friend, Brian Murphy, Mluleki Nkala, Dirk Viljoen (12th man), David Mutendera (13th man)

Babu Meman (Manager), Carl Rackemann (Coach), Amato Machikicho (Physiotherapist), Malcolm Jarvis (Fitness Trainer)