By Sports Reporter

Former Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer is set miss the tour of South Africa that starts from September 30 after recently undergoing a successful knee surgery in Harare last Thursday.

The 31-year-old leg spinner was initially part of the squad which has been preparing for the upcoming series under the watchful eye of newly appointed coach Lalchand Rajput before his withdrawal ahead of the surgery.

Cremer, who is expected to begin training in six weeks’ time is expected to be available for the national cricket teams tour of Bangladesh in October.

Cremer last played in a One Day International (ODI) for Zimbabwe back in March during the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup Qualifier which the country hosted.

Zimbabwe lost that their crucial Super Sixes match against minnows United Emirates (UAE) which ultimately knocked them out of contention for the next year’s world cup in England.

Cremer lost his captaincy as a result of that defeat while the entire technical team headed by Heath Streak was also fired.

Then due to a payment dispute with Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC), his name along with Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams was omitted for the home T20I tri-series also involving Australia and Pakistan.

Zimbabwe will be in South Africa for three-match ODI series and three-match T20I series. Then they will be in Bangladesh for a three-ODI and two-Test series.

Zimbabwe’s tour of South Africa

ODIs

September 30 – South Africa vs Zimbabwe, 1st ODI (Diamond Oval, Kimberley)

October 3 – South Africa vs Zimbabwe, 2nd ODI (Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein)

October 6 – South Africa vs Zimbabwe, 3rd ODI (Boland Park, Paarl)

T20Is

October 9 – South Africa vs Zimbabwe, 1st T20I (Buffalo Park, East London)

October 12 – South Africa vs Zimbabwe, 2nd T20I (Senwes Park, Potchefstroom)

October 14 0 – South Africa vs Zimbabwe, 3rd T20I (Willowmoore Park, Benoni)