Zimbabwe's first tour abroad as a Test nation was made to India. India had just defeated England 3-0 in a Test series and it is hardly surprising that Zimbabwe, despite playing some good cricket, were comfortably beaten.
Zimbabwe had made only one previous visit to India, for the 1987 World Cup. Yet once arrived, there was no time to get used to the conditions, the first match being the solitary Test match.The highlight of the Test was the batting of Andy and Grant Flower that marked them out as mainstays of the country's batting for the next decade.
Zimbabwe also lost the three match one-day international series that followed the Test matches.Finally, there was a forgettable performance against Kenya where a visit was unnecessarily tacked onto the end of a demanding first overseas tour.
Off-spinner Stephen Peall was dropped for disciplinary reasons on the day the team departed and replaced by a similar bowler, Ujesh Ranchod. However, after appearing in the first Test, Ranchod did not play in the ODI series.
Meman was appointed manager on 17 February; his parents had migrated from Gujarat to Rhodesia.
John Hampshire was appointed national team coach on 23 September 1992, on a two-month contract for October's inaugural Test against India and the home matches against New Zealand.He was retained on a season-by-season basis, and appointed coach for this tour on 17 February.
Teresa Bayford was appointed as physio from mid-February 1993 to mid-September.
Selectors
Vince Hogg (convenor),Derrick Townsend, David Lake,Chris Seager,Babu Meman.
Selection
The Zimbabwe squad returned from the Sharjah Cup tournament on Saturday 6 February in time to play in Sunday club matches.
Unavailable:none known
Tour Party Announced :25 February 1993.
John Traicos was recalled 14-man squad named for the Indian tour after missing the Sharjah trip.
Not selected : Mark Burmester and Ujesh Ranchod were dropped from the Sharjah squad and became non-travelling reserves.
Withdrawn:The decision to drop Stephen Peall at the last moment was taken by the ZCU executive rather than the selectors; Peter Chingoka as President took responsibility for the decision. Unconfirmed reports said that Peall annoyed officials by being late for a practice session before the President’s Cup one-day final at Harare Sports Club. So Ranchod was in the team and Paul Strang became a reserve.
Time between selection announcement and departure from Zimbabwe
11 days
(25 February-8 March)
Travel
HarareQNew Delhi
The Zimbabwe team flew from Harare Airport on 8 March and into New Delhi on Tuesday 9 March 1993. They dropped plans for a practice match at Karnail Singh Stadium and continued net practice at Kotla II.