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Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Cricket managing director Givemore Makoni has called on Zimbabweans to rally fully behind the national team as they chase an ICC World Cup ticket in a 10-team qualifying tournament that begins this weekend in Harare and Bulawayo.
The Chevrons, who play Scotland at Old Hararians today in their final warm-up game, have intensified their preparations for the quadrennial event, to be held on home soil for the second time in four years.
Zimbabwe are seeking to bounce back to the World Cup finals, set for India later this year, after missing the previous edition in England and Wales in 2019.
The Chevrons failed to qualify the last time after suffering a shock defeat to minnows United Arab Emirates in their last group game.
Makoni believes the team has prepared well for success, this time around.
“I can’t really speak on behalf of the team but the feedback that I am getting is that we have got a full strength side, no injuries and that’s a good position.
“I know they have been preparing well, I know they have just come out of a camp in Kwekwe. We have gone through the Pakistan (A) series where we played six one day games to try and prepare them.
“They are ready and I think they are raring to go. We should rally behind them and ensure that they give us a positive result. We are taking nothing but qualification; we need to qualify,” said Makoni.
There are only two tickets available in the 10-team tournament and Zimbabwe have at least to be among the two finalists to entertain any hopes of breaking the eight-year hiatus.
The qualifier promises some exciting competition for the Chevrons who face two-time champions West Indies, the Netherlands, Nepal and the USA in the Group A round robin phase, which precedes the Super Six stage.
The Chevrons will play Nepal in the opening match of the tournament at Harare Sports Club on June 18, before entertaining the Netherlands at the same venue two days later.
On June 24, Zimbabwe and the West Indies will lock horns at Harare Sports Club in what should be the biggest Group A fixture.
Zimbabwe’s last group fixture will be against the USA at the same venue on June 26.
Harare Sports Club and Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare and Queens Sports Club and Bulawayo Athletic Club in Bulawayo, will share 34 matches between them, with Harare Sports Club staging the final on July 9. Old Hararians Cricket Club will also host warm-up fixtures.
Makoni said everything was in place for the tournament. “I was in Bulawayo last week and I visited all the hosting venues and practice venues. At that time we were like 90 percent and the feedback I am getting now is that we are almost 100 percent.
“Harare Sports Club is ready; I think this venue is 100 percent. I was also at Takashinga and it’s around 96 percent and Old Hararians is 100 percent.
“So, in terms of the venues and the playing fields, we are ready. I think we are going to have a fantastic event, similar to what we had in 2018, or even better,” said Makoni.
Match tickets were put on sale last week and fans can purchase their tickets to selected matches online at cricketworldcup.com. Tickets will also be sold at the venue gates on match-days, subject to availability.
Charges have been pegged between US$2 and US$10 to enjoy in person the four group matches involving Zimbabwe as well as all the Super Six fixtures and the final.
Spectators will be able to watch for free all the other group matches not involving the hosts. For the group matches involving Zimbabwe as well as all the Super Six fixtures and the final at Harare Sports Club, tickets are going for US$2 (rest of ground), US$5 (grass embankment and TICSA grandstand) and US$10 (Centurion).
At Queens Sports Club, fans will pay US$2 (rest of ground) and US$5 (grandstand) to watch all the Super Six matches.
The Zimbabwe Cricket Supporters Union organising secretary Malvin “Luvah” Kwaramba was excited ahead of the cricket jamboree.
“As ZCSU we have already begun preparing for the tournament. We would want to create a carnival atmosphere to help push our team over the line.
“These boys have been doing well and we are saying to all the cricket fans out there let’s come in our numbers and fill the stadium to capacity, especially in matches involving Zimbabwe,” said Kwaramba.
Zimbabwe featured in their first official warmup on Tuesday and beat minnows Oman by 28 runs in a high-scoring match at Takashinga. All-rounder Sikandar Raza smashed a brilliant century before excelling with the ball with his 3-42.
The Chevrons posted 367/6 in their allotted overs but Oman fought back with a commendable 339 all out in 49.4 overs.
Raza’s innings was the highlight for Zimbabwe after the all-rounder plundered 109 runs from 66 balls before retiring out to give the other batsmen a chance.
There were also half-centuries for Sean Williams (64) and Ryan Burl (65), as Zimbabwe’s batters got some useful time out in the middle.
Fast bowler Brad Evans was a bit expensive with his 3-47 in his 5.4 overs while Blessing Muzarabani contributed 2-44 in 10 overs.
The Chevrons have another practice game against Scotland at Old Hararians today and the tournament is set to be launched officially tomorrow. The top three teams from each group will progress to the Super Six stage where they will play the sides they did not meet in the group stage.
All points won in the group stage will be carried over to the Super Six stage apart from those gained against the teams that fail to make it to the Super Six stage. The finalists will both progress to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
Zimbabwe squad: Ryan Burl, Tendai Chatara, Craig Ervine, Bradley Evans, Joylord Gumbie, Luke Jongwe, Innocent Kaia, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams.
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