Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Chevrons’ successful qualification for the 2026 T20 World Cup signals more than just a cricketing comeback following their painful 2024 absence. It has provided the ultimate theatre: a platform for one of the sport’s most unusual and entertaining feuds — the infamous “Mr Bean Rivalry” with Pakistan.
With the team surging and the spectre of a rematch looming, Zimbabwe has moved from being written off to becoming a must-watch story, proving their dramatic turnaround is just the beginning of their journey on the world stage.
The origins of this unusual rivalry trace back to one of the most dramatic upsets in T20 World Cup history.
On October 27, 2022, Zimbabwe stunned Pakistan with a one-run victory in a final-ball thriller during the Super 12 stage at the Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia.
The win was celebrated not only for its sporting merit but also as a symbolic response to a bizarre incident years earlier, when Pakistan allegedly sent a look-alike of English comedian Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean) to a promotional event in Zimbabwe.
The perceived slight was never forgotten, and the victory in Perth gave rise to the now-famous “Mr Bean Rivalry.”
Zimbabwe’s qualification for the 2026 tournament, under the guidance of coach Justin Sammons, comes as a welcome relief after a difficult period for Zimbabwe Cricket.
The team had been the only Full Member nation to miss out on the 2024 World Cup, suffering defeats to Uganda and Namibia, who claimed Africa’s two qualification spots.
That failure had left the Chevrons the subject of global ridicule. However, they have since bounced back, going undefeated in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier held in Harare, and successfully redeeming themselves.
The news of Zimbabwe’s qualification quickly lit up social media, with fans and commentators alike calling for a rematch with Pakistan. Posts on X (formerly Twitter) ranged from humorous to nostalgic, with users recalling the 2022 upset and expressing hope that the two sides would meet again.
Comments included: “Pakistan, Zimbabwe are coming for you again,” “Pakistan vs Zimbabwe . . . El Clasico,” and “After this news Pakistan was found shaking. Good evening Pakistan, good evening Babar Azam. The boys are back.”
Adding to the excitement is the emergence of 21-year-old opener Brian Bennett, who is currently enjoying a remarkable run of form. Bennett recently became the youngest Zimbabwean to score centuries in all three formats of the game, joining the elite company of Sikandar Raza and Brendan Taylor.
He scored his maiden T20I century during Zimbabwe’s 113-run win over Tanzania, finishing with 111 runs off just 60 balls.
In the Qualifier tournament, Bennett leads the run-scoring charts with 299 runs at an average of 74.75 and a strike rate of 184.56. He has scored over 50 runs in all four matches of the Qualifier — 72 against Uganda, 65 against Botswana, 111 against Tanzania, and 51 against Kenya — making him the 12th player globally to record four consecutive 50-plus scores in T20Is, just one behind Raza’s record of five.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s bowling attack also celebrated a milestone, with Richard Ngarava becoming the first Zimbabwean bowler to reach 100 T20I wickets, achieving the feat in 82 matches. His consistency and experience continue to anchor the team’s bowling unit.
The Chevrons are scheduled to face Namibia in the tournament final at Harare Sports Club this afternoon, a match that will cap off their impressive qualifying campaign and set the tone for their preparations ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
