Legendary West Indies pacer Courtney Walsh has been appointed as the bowling consultant for Zimbabwe ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) confirmed in an official statement that Walsh has already begun working with the national squad, providing guidance and technical input to the bowlers.
Walsh, widely regarded as one of cricket’s finest fast bowlers, holds the distinction of being the first bowler in Test cricket history to claim 500 wickets. Following his illustrious playing career, he transitioned into coaching, serving in high-profile roles with the West Indies, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe’s women’s teams.
During his tenure with Bangladesh, Walsh worked closely with pace spearheads such as Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, from 2016 up to the 2019 Cricket World Cup. He subsequently became head coach of the West Indies women’s side and, in 2024, served as the technical consultant for the Zimbabwean women’s team.
Now tasked with mentoring the men’s squad for the World Cup, Walsh expressed optimism about Zimbabwe’s prospects:
“If we implement our plans effectively, work cohesively as a team, and adapt to the conditions, I believe we have a very strong chance. I’ve been impressed with the bowling combinations and the talent within the squad.”
Zimbabwe’s bowling line-up for the tournament comprises a mix of experienced pacers, seam-bowling all-rounders, and spinners. The squad is as follows:
| Role | Player | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Bowler | Blessing Muzarabani | Senior pacer with international experience |
| Fast Bowler | Richard Ngarava | Promising young talent |
| Fast Bowler | Tinotenda Maposa | Key strike bowler in middle overs |
| Seam-Bowling All-Rounder | Brad Evans | Provides balance with bat and ball |
| Seam-Bowling All-Rounder | Tashinga Musekiwa | Effective in powerplay and death overs |
| Spinner | Wellington Masakadza | Experienced off-spinner |
| Spinner | Graeme Cremer | Offers control and variation |
| Spinner & Captain | Sikandar Raza | Leads team and contributes spin |
ZC Managing Director Givemore Makoni highlighted Walsh’s appointment as a strategic move to leverage his mentoring expertise.
“We needed someone who understands what it takes to succeed on the global stage. Walsh’s knowledge, professionalism, and ability to guide players are invaluable in sharpening our bowling attack for future challenges.”
Zimbabwe have been drawn in Group B of the T20 World Cup, alongside Australia, Ireland, Oman, and co-host Sri Lanka. All four of Zimbabwe’s group-stage matches will be held in Sri Lanka.