Doubt over Taibu's availability

Zimbabwe's selectors are sweating on the availability of former captain Tatenda Taibu for the five-ODI series against Sri Lanka starting in Harare on Thursday.

The squad is due to be named after the four-day match between Zimbabwe Select XI and Sri Lanka, which ends today at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The team will then fly to Harare for training with Zimbabwe A, who are set to play the tourists in a warm-up match at Queens Sports Club on Monday.

Taibu, an experienced top-order batsman and wicketkeeper, was left out of the team for the current game after selectors said he was not in the right frame of mind to play.

A very reliable source within the Zimbabwe camp said the chances of Taibu being available were slim. "He has issues with the board and at the same time in his private life, he is really going through a difficult time, it would not be a surprise if he is not available to play against Sri Lanka," the source said. If Taibu is absent, Regis Chakabva, another diminutive wicketkeeper, will be given the duties.

Veteran left-arm spinner Ray Price, who was omitted for the four-day match, is expected to be named in a squad which is again woefully short of experience.