peterMehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO cricket fans are in for a treat as the city is set to host the International Cricket Council Men’s Twenty20 World Cup Global Qualifier B in July.
Queens Sports Club, the venue of the just ended five-match T20 International series between Zimbabwe and Namibia as well as Bulawayo Athletic Club would be used for the eight-team competition to take place from 8 to 18 July.
Zimbabwe is one of the countries still seeking a place at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to be staged in Australia in October with just two slots remaining.
The seven teams heading to the Southern African nation are Hong Kong, Jersey, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Uganda and the United States of America.
Hamilton Masakadza, the Zimbabwe Cricket director of cricket confirmed the global qualifier is happening in the City of Kings and Queens.
The former Zimbabwe skipper attributed the decision to bring the qualifiers to Bulawayo to the overwhelming support witnessed during the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018.
Thousands turned up for Zimbabwe’s matches at Queens Sports Club to witness the Chevrons in action.
Zimbabwe’s match against Scotland during the qualifier, which was meant to be played at BAC was shifted to Queens due to the overwhelming response from local fans.
“It’s confirmed that Bulawayo will be hosting the qualifiers.
With the way the cricket went the last time we hosted the 2018 qualifiers I think it was always going to be a good move to move it back here.
The people here really love their cricket and I know the crowds will really come out and support the team,’’ said Masakadza.
Fans who pitched up in their numbers when Zimbabwe took on Namibia in the series which ended last Tuesday also played a huge part in influencing the decision to have the global qualifier in Bulawayo.
“We’ve also seen it now with this Namibia series especially over the weekend, the people really came in their numbers to back their boys so we are looking forward to more of the same,’’ Masakadza said.
Seeing that fans are most likely to get to witness the action for free, there is a high possibility of Zimbabwe’s matches being watched by a full house.
There was heartbreak for Zimbabwe in that 2018 World Cup Qualifier when the team played so well in Bulawayo before things changed when they headed to Harare and eventually faltered when it mattered the most with a defeat to the United Arab Emirates and failed to qualify for the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in England.
With Bulawayo hosting all the matches this time around, Zimbabwe will hope to be one of the two teams to qualify.
“Obviously it’s big for us having that home ground advantage, it’s always something that we cherish when we get a chance to host these games.
It’s good for Zimbabwe Cricket that the ICC is showing such confidence in us to keep hosting these sort of events,’’ said Masakadza.
The eight teams will be broken down into two groups of four, with the top two in each group to make it to the semi-finals and the two finalists will claim the remaining slots at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. — Follow on Twitter @Mdawini_29
Online Reporter