BY SPORTSCAST WRITER
HARARE – The late Zimbabwe cricket star all-rounder Kevin Curran would have been “extremely proud” of his son Ben’s call-up by the African nation as it fulfils a proud family tradition, a close relative and former national chief selector has said.
28-year-old batsman Ben Curran, brother of England players Tom and Sam Curran, was this week named in Zimbabwe’s squad for December’s three-match ODI series with touring Afghanistan.
“KC (the late Curran’s nickname) would have felt extremely proud to have Ben follow in his footsteps,” ex-Zimbabwe convenor of sectors Kenyon Ziehl, a cousin of the late Curran, told SportsCast on Wednesday.
The first-born of his three sons Tom (29) was born in Cape Town in South Africa while both middle-born Ben and last-born Sam (26) were born in the English town of Northampton when their father was starring in County cricket.
Kevin Curran, who was born in the Zimbabwean farming district of Rusape in Manicaland province, died in 2012 at the age of 53 in the provincial capital Mutare just 94km away from his birthplace. Curran, who had a stint as Zimbabwe’s head coach between 2005 and 2007, was now in charge of Harare-based franchise Mashonaland Eagles when he collapsed and died while jogging in Mutare.
After the older Curran made his international debut for Zimbabwe at the 1983 World Cup in the United Kingdom, Ziehl has revealed that his late cousin could have switched international allegiance to England after first joining the County circuit initially with Gloucestershire in 1985 and making instant impact.
“I believe now KC would feel content knowing that his sons have fulfilled a legacy that he dreamt of,” Ziehl said. “KC, I believe, could have played for England but he came home to play for Zimbabwe. But his his sons have played for England and Zimbabwe.”
His own father, Kevin Curran Snr, played seven first-class matches for Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) between 1947 and 1955, so the late star player and coach would have been immensely proud to see a third Curran generation represent the homeland.
Ben Curran is also now likely to feature for Zimbabwe in two Tests against Afghanistan on Boxing Day and in the New Year. The ODI series begins in Harare on 17 December.
Kenyon Ziehl was an unused member of Zimbabwe’s 1987 Rugby World Cup squad at the inaugural tournament in New Zealand, but went on to become the country’s head of national cricket selectors.
The Curran siblings’ uncle Ziehl, who was also born in Rusape, played two first-class games for his home province Manicaland and featured for Zimbabwe ‘A’, the country’s second-string cricket side. The highlight of all-round Ziehl’s sporting career was however being named in Zimbabwe’s squad for the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987 in New Zealand, although he didn’t feature in any of the Sables’ three games in the historic tournament due to injury.
