Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE yesterday booked their spot in the ICC T20 World Cup Super Eight stage without taking to the field at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
This comes after their match against Ireland was abandoned without a ball bowled due to incessant rains in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
The two teams were forced to share the points, which took Zimbabwe to an unassailable five points in their group.
They have now joined co-hosts Sri Lanka in the next round of the competition, which starts on February 21.
The Zimbabwe camp was yesterday overjoyed as they celebrated qualification.
“Ngarava led the singing,” said Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza.
“He has made some very good songs for the team as well, so he is the headmaster.
“I will take you back to the sub-regional qualifiers, and I stood up to my troops and said we are in this situation because of ourselves, and only we can clear this mess. “As much as we have achieved, it is just a tick in the box and not the whole box.
“There will be a small celebration, but we will then switch focus onto the next game.
“It is just a small tick in what we have set out to achieve,” he said.
Raza revealed that the Chevrons have already started plotting on clinching yet another big scalp, that of Sri Lanka.
“We have the data on them (Sri Lanka), and we will try to win that game,” he said.
“Qualifying has not changed our ultimate goal.
“Everyone loves an underdog story. Every condition we find ourselves in, if we get a day or two to train . . . we try and learn those conditions.
“We train, try and assess the conditions, see the previous games (at that venue), and try to put together a good game of cricket.
Raza’s Ireland counterpart, Lorcan Tucker was a gutted man as he still fancied his team’s chances of beating Zimbabwe and sneaking into the Super Eight stage.
But he also acknowledged the power of nature.
“The rain is something we are familiar with and it is an uncontrollable factor.
“There is nothing we can do about it.
“Momentum came too late for us in the tournament.
“There were big moments earlier, especially against Sri Lanka, where we did not get it right.
“Hopefully, we can prepare well for the next cycle,” he said.
The result also means that Ireland and giants Australia, one of the pre-tournament favourites, have been dumped out of the competition.
Ireland end their campaign on three points while Australia can only finish theirs on four points provided they beat win-less Oman in their final match of the group stages on Friday.
Having sealed their place, Zimbabwe are now set to continue their fairytale run in the competition and have been placed alongside West Indies, India and South Africa in the Super Eight stage.
According to the tournament format, the top eight nations had already been pre-seeded in the Super Eight with India, Australia, West Indies and South Africa making one group.
The other comprised England, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
However, any other team that qualifies from the group stage instead of a pre-seeded side will take their place in the Super Eight.
In this case, Zimbabwe have replaced Australia, whom they beat by 29 runs last week, and confirmed their elimination from the competition yesterday.
The Chevrons are also expected to enjoy the benefits of qualifying for the Super Eight stage, as they have also guaranteed their spot at the next T20 World Cup that will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand in 2028.
This also ensures a three-year period of competitive cricket action as Zimbabwe are also set to co-host the ICC Men’s 50-over World Cup alongside South Africa and Namibia next year.
The Chevrons wrap up their group games when they take on Sri Lanka tomorrow.
The tournament will then move on to the Super Eight stage where the Chevrons begin their charge with a game against the West Indies on February 23.
They will then play India on February 26 and wrap up their Super Eight stage campaign with a date against South Africa on March 1.
