Online Reporter
Stanford Chiwanga [email protected]
THERE was a time when facing Zimbabwe was viewed as little more than a scheduled stop on the international cricket calendar. Set a date. A warm up. Beat them to a pulp. Move on to face a stronger opponent.
The Chevrons had become the team everyone expected to beat. The giants routinely brushed them aside. Emerging nations fancied their chances against them. Even teams once considered Zimbabwe’s equals often arrived believing victory was a formality.
For years, Zimbabwean cricket seemed trapped in an endless cycle of frustration. Talented players came and went. The team showed occasional flashes of brilliance but rarely enough consistency to trouble established opponents. Supporters watched painful collapses, narrow defeats and squandered opportunities become all too familiar.
There were moments when Zimbabwe looked like a side carrying the weight of its own history. This is, after all, a nation that once produced world-class cricketers such as the Flower brothers, Heath Streak and Tatenda Taibu. A nation that could compete with the best on its day. A nation that once belonged in conversations about cricket’s rising powers.
But somewhere along the way, that belief faded.
What has happened over the past year, however, suggests something profound is changing. Zimbabwe are no longer simply competing. They are winning. More importantly, they are winning in situations that would once have ended in defeat.
The clearest evidence came in the recent One-Day International series against Bangladesh. Having already defended a modest total in the opening match, Zimbabwe once again found themselves under pressure in the second ODI. Reduced to 8 for 2 and later struggling at 66 for 4, the old Zimbabwe might have folded. Instead, they fought back through Ben Curran’s magnificent century and a game-changing late assault from Brad Evans before bowling Bangladesh out to seal a series victory.
It was not merely the result that stood out. It was the manner in which it happened. There was resilience. There was composure. Most importantly, there was belief.
That belief has become the defining feature of this Zimbabwe side. Veteran all-rounder Sikandar Raza recently spoke of a dressing room transformed by a culture of winning, pointing out that situations which once slipped away are now opportunities to launch a comeback.
For years, Zimbabwe seemed to enter difficult situations expecting the worst. Now they appear to expect the opposite.
The transformation has not happened overnight.
The foundations were laid during Zimbabwe’s impressive run to the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup, a campaign that rekindled pride among supporters and reminded the cricketing world that the Chevrons remained capable of competing on the international stage. Since then, victories have continued to arrive, bringing with them confidence that cannot be manufactured in training sessions.
Every successful team requires heroes, and Zimbabwe suddenly have several. Ben Curran has emerged as a dependable top-order batsman capable of anchoring innings under pressure. Brian Bennett has added youthful energy. Raza continues to lead from the front. In the bowling department, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans have formed a pace attack capable of troubling quality opposition.
For perhaps the first time in many years, Zimbabwe look like a team rather than a collection of individuals.
The crowds have noticed.
Harare Sports Club and Queens Sports Club have begun to rediscover their voice. Fans who endured years of disappointment are returning, singing, believing and investing emotionally once again.
Their support has become one of the most powerful symbols of Zimbabwe’s cricket revival. What was once viewed as an elite sport has increasingly become a source of national pride.
Yet perhaps the greatest reason for optimism lies in what comes next.
Zimbabwe will co-host the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, an opportunity that could redefine cricket in the country. The ambition extends beyond merely participating. There is growing talk about competing, challenging stronger nations and proving they deserve a place among cricket’s respected sides. The country is also eager to strengthen its standing in Test cricket and push for greater relevance on the global stage.
Nobody is pretending the journey is complete. Zimbabwe are not suddenly the finished article. There will still be setbacks, difficult tours and painful defeats. The gap between them and the sport’s established powers remains significant.
But something precious has returned to Zimbabwean cricket – hope. Not the fragile hope that accompanies every new beginning, but the kind that is built on evidence. The Chevrons are winning games they once lost. They are fighting from positions where they once surrendered. They are developing players who are beginning to believe they belong.
For too long, Zimbabwe were cricket’s whipping boys. Today, they are becoming something far more dangerous. A team that expects to win.
