Duffin replaces injured Mawoyo for Zimbabwe

CHENNAI, India (AP) — Former captain Terry Duffin was summoned as an injury replacement for Zimbabwe's World Cup squad on Thursday for the first time since the last tournament four years ago.

Duffin replaced opening batsman Tinotenda Mawoyo, who tore an abdominal muscle in training in Dubai last week without adding to his two caps from 2006.

Mawoyo, himself, was a replacement two weeks ago for Sean Ervine, who pulled out for personal reasons.

The 28-year-old Duffin played the last of his 23 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe against Ireland at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean. In his ODI career, during which he was captain in 2005-06, he scored three half centuries for an average of more than 23.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe coach Alan Butcher believes his team was coming into form at the right time ahead of the World Cup.

Zimbabwe has been struggling for results recently, and lost a one-day series in Bangladesh in December.

But Butcher said on Thursday his team was ready to rediscover its form as it sets its sights on a quarterfinal place.

"We have to play to our plans and give our best in the tournament," he said. "We need to execute our plans well.

"We need to have self-belief to perform well in the World Cup."

Captain Elton Chigumbura said the team had benefited from a productive training camp in Dubai, where it beat Netherlands and Ireland in warmup matches, as well as the input of West Indies great Brian Lara, who has been used as a batting consultant.

Chigumbura said Lara had helped the team and "hopefully we will be able to put it into practice."

The main concerns over Zimbabwe's squad is the absence of a quick bowler, and its lack of experience on Indian pitches.

But Butcher said the recent tour of Bangladesh, which provides similar surfaces to India, would stand his team in good stead, while he expected his selected medium-pacers to make up for the lack of a pace bowler in prevailing conditions.

The Zimbabwe team led by Chigumbura arrived in Chennai on Wednesday where it plays a practice match against South Africa on Saturday.

Zimbabwe's first match in the World Cup is against three-time defending champion Australia at Ahmedabad on Feb. 21.

"If we can play our best cricket, then we can expect to do well in the tournament," Chigumbura said.