Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE countdown to the ICC Men’s T20 cricket World Cup could not have been any better for the Zimbabwe’s Chevrons, who are set to return to the big stage on Monday in a Group B game against Oman.
The Chevrons have massive battles to fight in the next 10 days, in a five-nation group that also has Ireland and two former champions, Sri Lanka and Australia.
The stakes are high as only the top two teams at the end of the roundrobin games will progress to the coveted Super Eight phase.
Zimbabwe coach, Justin Sammons, believes the team has invested strongly into their game in the last 12 months, when they played no less than 25 T20I games against opponents ranging from as small as Botswana to the big guns like South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand.
They rounded off their preparations with a two-week training camp in Sri Lanka, who are co-hosting the event with India.
Zimbabwe are based in Sri Lanka for the group matches and will play three of the games in the capital Colombo and one in Kandy.
“I think the fact of the matter is the guys have put a lot of work in, obviously, through the last year,” Sammons told Zimpapers Sports Hub from the Chevrons’ base in Colombo.
“The amount of cricket we played was good. But the work that they’ve put in behind the scenes has also been impressive.
“Especially over this last month, the guys have worked really hard. They’re living a lot fitter and have put in the hard yards in terms of upskilling as well, which was great to see.
“So, I certainly feel that I’m pleased with the way the preparation has gone and where the players are at. It’s just now about obviously getting that intensity up in terms of actual games.”
The Chevrons failed to qualify for the previous edition held in the United States and West Indies and will be out to their claim their place.
The last time they played at the tournament in 2022 they performed relatively well to reach the Super 12 stage.
Ahead of the coming tournament, Zimbabwe enlisted the services of West Indies legend Courtney Walsh as bowling consultant.
Sammons said in an earlier interview that the target this year is a Super Eight berth. But qualification is a bit tougher as they have to ensure wins against Oman and Ireland and then hope for an upset against one of the top seeds Australia and Sri Lanka. The opening match against Oman at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo on Monday should set the tone for the rest of the tournament.
The Chevrons were handed a reality check in their final warm-up game against the same opponents on Thursday, with Oman claiming a confident four-wicket win.
The Chevrons experienced the usual batting glitches before failing to defend 187/7. But it was a case of mixed fortunes in the warm-up games after they had also beaten Netherlands by 29 runs in the first warm up match earlier in the week.
They were playing for the first time since the tour of Pakistan two months back. “I don’t think the win is that important,” said Sammons after the warm-up victory over Netherlands.
“I think it was more about being out there playing again. Obviously, it’s been a few months now, over two months since we were in Pakistan.
“So just to get out there, a slight lift in intensity, although not at the intensity that we would normally be at when it comes to a fully-fledged T20 international but certainly heading in the right direction.
“And I think that was important that we were out playing again more than the result. “In terms of the assessment from the game last night or yesterday, we weren’t at our best.
I think in all departments, there were areas that need improving. “But the fact that we still were able to produce good cricket too, that was also pleasing.
But we know we weren’t anywhere near our best and there’s still strides to be made. “I think the warm-ups (were) hugely important because it does give the guys the necessary game time leading into the tournament,” said Sammons.
After Oman on Monday, Zimbabwe have a date with Australia in their second match of the tournament at the R. Premadasa Stadium next Friday.
The team will then travel to Kandy to face Ireland at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on February 17 before returning to Colombo to conclude their group fixtures against hosts Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium on February 19.
But the tournament kicks-off today as Pakistan take on Netherlands Sinhalese Sports Club. This will be followed by West Indies versus Scotland at Eden Gardens in Kolkata (India) before the hosts India take on USA at
