Panyangara heads back
Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 11:43 am
http://www.sundaymail.co.zw/inside.aspx ... 8175&cat=5Panyangara heads back.
By Tinashe Kusema.
FORGOTTEN all-rounder Tinashe Panyangara appears to be on his way back home. Stanbic Twenty20 champions Mountaineers have been earmarked as his destination with reliable sources within saying Panyangara is at the centre of the franchise’s restructuring exercise.
The restructuring exercise might also see the axe falling on some key players to make room for a whole new brood of youngsters making their mark in the team.
Although the exercise is still in its infancy national wicketkeeper-batsman Tatenda Taibu, Stuart Matsikenyeri and Njabulo Ncube have already been shown the door, with the latter rumoured to be on his way to Bulawayo-based franchise Tuskers.
“As attention goes to the return of the country to Test cricket we have decided to shift focus to development, which forms the backbone of most prevalent franchise structures around the world.
“We have been going around the country’s schools in an extensive hunt for the most promising talent which we intend to groom into the national team,” said the source.
“This drive, however, will not deter our immediate goal to win trophies as we currently have enough arsenal in our camp to achieve success but what we intend to accomplish is to establish a sense of continuity and have the Mountaineers brand associated with success for generations to come,” he said.
With a new franchise season just over a month away, Mountaineers have been busy on the transfer market and are after Panyangara, Under-19 bowling sensation Steve Chimamiwa and Greg Smith.
However, it is the acquisition of Panyangara, who has also been targeted by several other clubs, that is attracting the most attention at Mountaineers.
The 24-year-old speed merchant is set to join the legion of former Zimbabwe internationals such Dion Ebrahim, Andy Blignaut and Sean Ervine, who have decided to come back home and help in the resuscitation of the game.
“I can indeed confirm that we are currently in talks with Panyangara and are only left with a few outstanding issues which centre around his contract,” said Mountaineers boss Phillip Senzani.
Panyangara is a product of the well-respected Takashinga Cricket Club, the first black cricket centre in the history of Zimbabwe.
The Marondera-born lanky all-rounder, however, first burst on the world stage with a remarkable bowling performance of 6 for 31 that sent the Australians tumbling to a shock defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe during the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh in 2003-04.
He went on to be Zimbabwe’s leading wicket-taker with 11 wickets and so began his rise to stardom as he was immediately thrust into the national team set-up after the sacking of the 15 rebel players.
He would go on to raise the country‘s flag on the international stage with the senior national team, starring in three Tests and 23 One-Day Internationals in which he took a total of 34 wickets combined.
However, Panyangara’s career took a dive in early 2005 after he developed a stress fracture in the back, causing him to miss a year of cricket.
This led to a fallout between him and Zimbabwe Cricket over his rehabilitation after which Panyangara severed ties with the country.
Panyangara is currently playing cricket in England during the summer months at Barkisland Cricket Club.