West Indies coach Daren Sammy acknowledged that Zimbabwe’s gigantic quick bowler Blessing Muzarabani had the “X-factor” but stated on Sunday that his team had strategies to counter the 2.03-meter (6-foot-8-inch) beanpole.
On Monday, the West Indies will begin their Super Eights campaign in Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium against tournament surprise packages Zimbabwe, who won a group that included Australia and Sri Lanka. With nine wickets and 4/17 in the upset of Australia, Muzarabani was one of the group phase’s surprises.
“We plan for every single player. Not only him. He’s an X-factor. You’ve got to respect the opposition. We know the threat they bring against us but we also know what we have to do in order for him not to be threatening against us,” AFP quoted Sammy as telling reporters on Sunday.
Because the Super Eights were pre-seeded prior to the competition, the top eight seeds were aware of their opponents for the second round. Australia was the only one to not make it to the next round, and Zimbabwe took its place.
However, after the second phase put the four group winners—South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, and the West Indies—against one another, the system has come under fire. The other Super Eights group includes Sri Lanka, England, Pakistan, and New Zealand, the four group runners-up.
With two of the group winners guaranteed to miss the semi-finals, the format has sparked claims of an unfair second round of the competition. When reporters questioned Sammy about the schedule, he played a straight face and claimed that the system provided teams and fans with certainty.
“If you take the logistics that comes into it, trying to give the fans who travel an opportunity to plan ahead, that’s the big thing for most people. Zimbabwe came out of the group. That means somebody did not come out. Zimbabwe did what they had to do. I do understand from the logistic standpoint, trying to give the fans the surety, flights, whatever,” said Sammy.
All-rounder Romario Shepherd, who took a hat-trick against Scotland, may make a comeback after missing the previous week, according to Sammy.
“He practised well yesterday. Bowled quite well, you know, hit the ball very, very cleanly,” Sammy said for the right-arm seamer and power hitter, who appeared to be in no pain despite having strapping on his right knee throughout Sunday’s practice.
“The good thing for us is that everybody is available for selection. So I’m glad to know and happy to know that all my soldiers are ready to go out to war.”
