zimcricketnews.com

The series was always intended as a developmental exercise, so I'm not going to be too critical of the Zimbabwe Board XI's failure to score a win in their recent series - and their coach, Steven Mangongo, is being equally pragmatic. In an interview with the Zimbabwe Independent, Mangongo points to the good that can be taken from the series, while admitting that the side did have its weaknesses, particularly in the batting department:

"In the second game, we scored 300 runs plus in two innings after being bowled for less than 200 in the first. In fact, we saw quite a few 50s from guys like Bonaparte (Mujuru) Timycen (Maruma), Regis (Chakabva) and Friday (Kasteni). So you definitely can see on the graph that the boys are learning the demands of Test cricket."

Twice in the second four-dayer and once in the second one-dayer the Board XI got into winning positions but ended up losing both matches, a factor Mangongo attributed to inexperience:

"It shows the boys are not experienced. When you get into strong positions like that you need guys that are experienced to kill off the game. When you bowl to tail-enders it must be full and straight. This can only be done by experienced players. Most of the Pakistan Academy players have played an average of 50 first-class matches. It was virtually the Pakistan A side minus just a few players, so they know how to kill a game. Our guys don’t play enough longer-version games. The remedy here is to play more international four-day games. You must have consistency. If you only get to play again after six months it’s like you are starting afresh. We must be careful not to kill the momentum."

...meaning there's a need for more of these matches to be arranged, but as yet there are none on the calendar. Here's hoping ZC get their act together and get them arranged.
Zimbabwe Independent - Zim Board XI Coach Sees Positive Side