Seamers leave Zimbabwe

Douglas Hondo has been overlooked for Zimbabwe due to a lack of match fitness

Three Zimbabwe fast bowlers have quit the national side to carve out careers in English club cricket.

Douglas Hondo, Mluleki Nkala and Waddington Mwayenga are the latest players to leave Zimbabwe following strike bowler Anthony Ireland’s decision to pursue a career in county cricket in the wake of his country’s World Cup exit.

Hondo and Nkala, who are close friends and were two of the few players to have remained following the 2004 rebellion, left a fortnight ago while Mwayenga quit at the weekend.

They would have been taking part in the ongoing first-class Logan Cup, an inter-provincial four-day tournament.

Nkala was assistant to national team coach Kevin Curran during the tour of the West Indies last year and was a non-travelling reserve for the World Cup.

Hondo made a brief return from injury in January but has been overlooked since because of a lack of match fitness.

“I believe a number of players are frustrated by the conditions and have given up on the national team,” said Mwayenga, who has played one Test and three one-day internationals.

“Douglas Hondo and Mluleki Nkala have gone to England and I will also be going myself and we are all pursuing club cricket.

“If you’re not guaranteed national team cricket you are left with no option but to try something else.

“Of course, the younger players will remain in Zimbabwe because they are still excited by the packages they are getting from ZC (Zimbabwe Cricket), but for some of us who have been around for some time, it’s difficult to stay.

“I cannot say others will follow but it will not be a surprise if they do,” he added.

Hondo, 27, played nine Tests and 56 one-day internationals between 2001 and 2005 before being sidelined by injury.

Twenty-six-year-old Nkala featured in 10 Tests and 50 one-dayers between June 2000 and November last year.