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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
THE Lady Chevrons believe the ICC World Cup Qualifier 2021, which the country hosts starting tomorrow, will be the climax of a memorable year which has seen the game taking major strides.
Nine countries, including hosts Zimbabwe, are set to converge in Harare to battle for the remaining places to play at next year’s ICC Women’s World Cup 2022, set for New Zealand.
Zimbabwe Women’s Cricket spokesperson, Yvonne Mangunda, said the association has put everything in place, for the successful hosting of the tournament.
The event will be watched in Africa, Europe, USA, Caribbean Islands, Asia, and as far as the Indochinese Peninsula.
Manguda said Zimbabwe women’s cricket were excited by the tournament, which comes on the back of milestones, they have made this year.
They were bestowed with ODI and Test cricket status by the International Cricket Council.
“It is huge because it shows the progress that women’s cricket has gone through – hosting a global qualifier and being granted ODI and Test status in the same year,’’ said Mangunda.
“We are hoping to qualify like every team participating the qualifier.
“As hosts, we hope all the participating teams will enjoy the great hospitality that Zimbabwe has to offer.
“Zimbabweans should expect great cricket in the coming weeks.
“The expectation is for us to deliver a world-class event, and qualify to the final round. “We expect visiting teams to go back with nothing but praise for us as hosts.
“But, most importantly, it will be great if our team to qualify on home soil and we also hope more young players will be attracted to play the game.
“We want the game to keep growing and player base to widen. We want little girls to dream of playing for national team.’’
Zimbabwe headline Group B, which includes Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand and the United States.
The other team, which was supposed to be in the group, Papua New Guinea, withdrew from the tournament, after a Covid-19 outbreak in the squad, during pre-flight quarantine, prevented them from travelling.
Group A has Ireland, Netherlands, Sri Lanka and West Indies.
The biggest incentive at the nine-nation qualification tournament is the chance to play at the next World Cup, with three places up for grabs.
The competing countries teams will be split into two groups, from which the top three in each group, will progress to the Super Six league stage.
The top three nations at the end of the Super Six stage will proceed to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 to be held in New Zealand between March and April next year.
They will join the five teams which have already qualified through the ICC Women’s Championship — Australia, England, India, South Africa and hosts New Zealand.
And. it’s not just the prize of a place in the major tournament to play for.
The fourth and fifth-ranked teams after the Super Six stage will still leave the qualification tournament with something to hold on to.
They will seal a place in the next ICC Women’s Championship cycle as the size of that tournament is increased from eight to 10 teams.
Zimbabwe are looking to capitalise on home comforts to qualify for their first World Cup. Their best performances at the Qualifier remains the fifth place finish at the 2008 World Cup Qualifier in South Africa.
The Lady Chevrons will start their campaign against familiar opponents Thailand, whom they hosted in Harare, barely three months ago.
“We are in good spirits and really can’t wait for our first match, it’s been a long wait since 2019,’’ said coach Adam Chifo.
“We do stand a chance, a very good chance but only if we apply ourselves and demand the very best from each and every one of us.
“Thailand have improved and we respect them, as we witnessed the last time they visited us.
“But, we have done our homework and are ready to play them any day.
“Going into such a big tournament, there’s always a lot to do and you can never be satisfied.
“But, we are grateful that we have covered a lot of ground in our preparations.’’
The Lady Chevrons had decent preparations, despite the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Apart from playing the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier Africa, and winning it, they also hosted South Africa Emerging, Thailand, Ireland and Bangladesh.
“Bangladesh and Ireland were an eye-opener for us in terms of what to expect in the tournament.
“It will definitely not be an easy path but it’s very possible it will all come down to how much we really want it on the day.
“We have done all we could in the time available. Let’s stay positive and hungry but above all let’s enjoy ourselves,” said Chifo.
Zimbabwe go into the tournament ranked 12th.
West Indies and Pakistan are comfortably the top two ranked sides in the competition, according to the latest ICC Women’s ODI Rankings. Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka and Ireland are also ranked highly.
Zimbabwe squad:
Mary-Anne Musonda (captain), Josephine Nkomo, Modester Mupachikwa, Precious Marange, Sharne Mary Mayers, Loryn Phiri, Nyasha Gwanzura Nomatter Mutasa, Loreen Tshuma, Nomvelo Sibanda, Chiyedza Dhururu, Esther Mbofana, Audrey Mazvishaya, Francesca Chipare, Christabel Chatonzwa.
Online Reporter