Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zimbabwe Under-19 cricket team are yet to complete a single match during the Youth One Day International (ODI) Tri-series with the weather playing a huge part in their participation in the tournament.
Their matches against the Pakistan and Afghanistan Under-19, the other participants in the tri-series, have either ended in a no-result or been abandoned due to the incessant rains that have hit the country over the festive season.
More troubling is the fact that in both cases, Zimbabwe were in precarious positions with Afghanistan having bowled them out for 90 runs and Pakistan setting them a huge target of 355 runs to win before the rains hit.
However, the Zimbabwe Under-19 skipper Simbarashe Mudzengerere has poured cold water on his camp panicking.
“I think we have lacked a little bit in terms of execution and a few mistakes,” said Mudzengerere.
“We just have to be a little bit more clinical and keep our mistakes down,” he said.
Zimbabwe return to the pitch this morning when they take on Afghanistan at Sunrise Sports Club.
The match begins at 9.30am.
Pakistan already have one foot in the final after their nervy one-wicket win over Afghanistan over the weekend and the share of the spoils due to their match against Zimbabwe being abandoned on Tuesday.
They lead the log standings with three points, while Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are second and third with two and one point.
However, the weather continues to be a huge subplot going into the final lap of the tri-series with three more matches before the final.
Today’s weather forecast was that there are huge chances of rain with temperatures ranging from a high of 24 Degrees Celsius and a low of 15.
In their efforts to prepare for every possible outcome, Mudzengerere admitted that they have had a few talks about the weather.
“Yes, we have spoken about the weather situation a couple of times,” he said.
“Most probably, the rains are going to affect many games during the tournament and possibly the World Cup itself.
“It has really been on my mind, personally.
“I think we just need to walk over just one team, and then we qualify for the final.
Meanwhile, five-time champions India became the latest nation to announce their squads for the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026.
Led by Ayush Mhatre, India was placed in Group B alongside New Zealand, USA, and Bangladesh.
All-rounder Vihaan Malhotra will serve as Mhatre’s deputy at the tournament slated for January 15-February 6 in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
They joined the likes of Australia, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, England, Pakistan, Scotland, West Indies, South Africa and co-host Zimbabwe.
The likes of debutants Tanzania, the United States of America, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are expected to name their squads in the coming weeks.
India squad
Ayush Mhatre (c), R.S. Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, D. Deepesh, Mohamed Enaan, Aaron George, Abhigyan Kundu, Kishan Kumar Singh, Vihaan Malhotra, Udhav Mohan, Henil Patel, Khilan A. Patel, Harvansh Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Vedant Trivedi.
