Having been appointed Zimbabwe's captain for the upcoming T20I triangular series against Australia and Pakistan, Hamilton Masakadza is excited to back at the helm of affairs for his country.

Masakadza has been given the responsibility to lead a young and inexperienced side without its key matchwinners like Brendan Taylor, Sikandar Raza, Graeme Cremer, Sean Williams and Craig Ervine, and so, he knows he has a task on his hand. 

Masakadza, who has played 52 T20Is over the years, scoring 1460 runs at an average of 29.20, has previously led the side one Test, nine one-day internationals, and five T20Is and is happy to be given the privilege again. 

Speaking ahead of Zimbabwe's first game against Pakistan, Masakadza was quoted saying on ESPNcricinfo as, “I'm very excited to be back at the helm and leading the team again. The key is just to try and focus on the job at hand now and go out there and do the job for the team, There's actually been a lot of excitement in the camp, with a few guys coming back that haven't played for a while and a few new guys making their first strides. It's upbeat in the camp.”

Masakadza talked about the wealth of knowledge that the new head coach Lalchand Rajput brings with him. He said, “He's a very positive guy, that's the main thing that's really stuck out, though we haven't been with him for very long. He's a positive individual and he's encouraged the guys a lot and got us thinking positively, which is very important for us.”

With lack of experience in the squad, the Zimbabwe selectors have tried to bridge the gap, with Elton Chigumbura and Chamu Chibhabha making comebacks. Masakadza believes it will help the side, as he said, “There's a lot of experience there, and that's something I'll be able to use and bounce ideas off him(Chigumbhura). He's still got a lot of international cricket left in him, and for me right now it will be important to have guys like that in the changing room. Guys like him and Chamu, that have some experience behind them, it will really help my job to have guys like that around,”

Zimbabwe will be against Australia and the no.1 ranked T20I side Pakistan but Masakadza stated it is about still believing in yourself as individuals and as a team. 

Masakadza said,  “When we play against these bigger teams we're always underdogs, It's not the first time that we've been here. The guys just have to understand that in T20s, anything can happen and anyone can turn a game on their day.”