Zimbabwe arrive in India minus captain and baggage
Zimbabwe's cricket team arrived here on Monday for a five-week tour of India, without captain Heath Streak, leg-spinner Brian Murphy and their baggage.
The Zimbabweans landed in the early hours of the morning at Sahar airport to find their kitbags and luggage had been left behind in London.
Team manager Babu Meman said the airline had promised to deliver the baggage in time for the three-day tour opener against the National Cricket Academy at Indore from Wednesday.
Streak, the team's bowling spearhead, was having his wisdom tooth removed back home in Harare and will join the team only on the second day of the Indore match.
Vice-captain Guy Whittall will lead the tourists in Streak's absence, Memen said.
Murphy, expected to play a key role on spinner-friendly wickets in India, was busy writing his university exams in Cape Town and will arrive just before the two-Test series later this month.
Zimbabwe's only Test match in India way back in 1993 ended in an innings victory for the hosts. But the team has played a number of one-day internationals in this country including two World Cups in 1987 and 1996.
"This tour would present a great exposure to the youngsters in the side," Meman, a former Test cricketer said.
The tourists are without the seasoned duo of Neil Johnson and Murray Goodwin, who left Zimbabwe this year to play in South Africa and Australia respectively.
Zimbabwe will have another three-day warm-up match against the Board President's team at Faridabad from November 13 before the first Test in New Delhi starts on November 18.
The second Test will be played in Nagpur from November 25, followed by a series of five one-day internationals.
The Indian team, meanwhile, will travel to Dhaka to play in Bangladesh's inaugural Test match from November 10, before joining up with Zimbabwe in New Delhi.
Zimbabwe squad:
Heath Streak (capt), Guy Whittall (vice-capt), Alistair Campbell, Stuart Carlisle, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Travis Friend, Trevor Madondo, Douglas Marillier, Brian Murphy, Mluleki Nkala, Henry Olonga, Gavin Rennie, Bryan Strang, Paul Strang.
Manager: Babu Meman. Coach: Carl Rackemann
Mail Cricket Editor
