Chevrons face daunting reality

ZIMBABWE’S cricket team, the Chevrons, are set to compete in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Africa Qualifier B tournament in Kenya, a stark reminder of the country’s dwindling cricket fortunes.

Once a cricketing powerhouse, Zimbabwe will become the first Full Member to participate in a sub-regional qualifier for a World Cup.

For the country’s cricket faithful, the Chevrons’ forthcoming assignment makes for sad reading. They now find themselves competing against literal world cricket minnows.

The Chevrons will begin their tournament with a clash with the 90th-placed Seychelles team on October 19 before going on to face Kenya in their second game on the following day. Their third game will be against the 63rd-ranked Mozambican side on October 22.

Zimbabwe will then face the last team in the world rankings, The Gambia, on October 23 before they round off their games with a clash with Rwanda, who are ranked number 65, on October 24.

Their first three games will be played at Gymkhana Club Ground before going on to play their match against The Gambia and Rwanda at Ruaraka Sports Club.

Both venues are in Nairobi. However, the tournament does not guarantee the Chevrons a ticket to the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

The top two sides in the Sub-Regional Africa Qualifier B tournament will advance to the regional final, where they will be joined by Namibia and Uganda, who were given a bye after having participated in the previous T20 World Cup and four other teams from sub-regional qualifiers A and C.

Last week, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) named their 15-member squad for the tournament. The side will be led by Sikandar Raza, with two uncapped players, Tashinga Musekiwa and Tinotenda Maposa.

The 38-year-old Raza with 91 T20I caps under his belt, is the team’s most experienced player, followed by the returning all-rounder Ryan Burl who, at 30, has featured in 77 games.

The other regular players named in the team are all-rounder Wessly Madhevere and fast bowlers Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava, aged 24, 28 and 26 and with 65, 56 and 55 T20I appearances respectively.

Apart from Burl, recalled after regaining his form, Zimbabwe also welcomed the return of right-arm seamer Trevor Gwandu, who had not made the cut since his international bow against Ireland in December last year.

Zimbabwe squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier B:
Sikandar Raza (Captain), Faraz Akram, Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Trevor Gwandu, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Brandon Mavuta, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava. —@brandon_malvin