lHARARE

Three key coaching personnel have been dropped from the Zimbabwe team ahead of their Caribbean tour later this month.

Batting coach Grant Flower, bowling coach Heath Streak and fitness trainer Lorraine Chivandire will not travel to the Caribbean because of a technical structure change, Zimbabwe Cricket has announced.

General manager of media and public Shingai Rhuhwaya says the decision was made after consulting with the players and the head coach on the effectiveness of the current coaching structure which has a head coach, an assistant coach and two specialists.

"While specialists can be engaged for preparations and specialist training throughout the season, the head coach is to have full and sole charge of the national team during tours," Rhuhwaya told ESPNcricinfo.

"The same will apply for the fitness trainer whose primary objective is to ensure that players are fit before they go to tour. The physiotherapist and assistant coach will then play the role of maintenance while on tour."

Media reports have linked Zimbabwe's decision to drop three members of the coaching staff to "financial concerns" and accommodating more touring players.

The tour, which includes three ODIs, two Twenty20s and two Tests, starts on February 20 and is head coach Alan Butcher's last in charge before his contract expires.

The build-up to the tour has been marred with controversy after Zimbabwe Cricket protested a selection directive by the country's Sports and Recreation Commission requiring the entire panel to be former international players.

"We haven't played an ODI in more than a year either and that doesn't help," said Butcher.

"We know it will be tough but we have to stay positive and give a better account of ourselves from a last trip."

Zimbabwe's last full tour was to New Zealand in early 2012 where they lost all matches across every format, including their heaviest Test defeat.