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Eddie Chikamhi-Senior Sports Reporter
THE ZIMBABWE Under-19 cricket team’s preparations for the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022 in West Indies suffered a setback when USA Under-19 pulled out of a scheduled pre-tournament triangular series that was set to take place this week.
The youth team, which is being captained by 18-year-old Emmanuel Bawa, was set to take part in a Youth World Cup Training Camp in Barbados, along with Ireland and the USA. The teams were set to play each other twice in a triangular series that the Zimbabweans desperately needed to get the feel of the anticipated competition after they left with a team lacking international exposure.
The side, which is led by former Zimbabwe captains Prosper Utseya and Elton Chigumbra, travelled safely to the Caribbean Islands during the Boxing Day holidays and gave the players rest upon arrival yesterday.
Head coach Utseya yesterday told The Herald that a four-match warm-up series between Zimbabwe and Ireland has now replaced the failed triangular. The first match will take place tomorrow.
“USA pulled out of the tri-series for reasons best known to them. The revised schedule against Ireland is as follows: The first match will be on December 29 and the second on December 30. “The teams will rest on December 31. The games will resume on January 1 and the last match is on January 2, 2022,” said Utseya.
The Zimbabwe Under-19 side, which was placed in Group C alongside Pakistan, Afghanistan and Papua New Guinea, is virtually plunging into the unknown as their preparations were hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The team left for the tournament without playing any international game after their scheduled tours were cancelled due to the pandemic. The selectors also had a difficult time assembling the side since there was little cricket action taking place in schools in the last two years because of the same reason. Zimbabwe are scheduled to depart for St Kitts and Nevis next Monday after playing four practice games against Ireland Under-19s. They will play two more friendly warm-up games against reigning champions Bangladesh and Canada between January 9 and 11. Zimbabwe will then set their final base in Trinidad and Tobago, where they play their World Cup group games against Afghanistan, PNG and Pakistan.
Utseya’s charges will kick off their campaign against Afghanistan on January 16. They will then take on Pakistan four days later, and round off their group matches against Papua New Guinea on January 22.
Sixteen teams are taking part in the tournament and have been drawn into four groups. Reigning champions Bangladesh, England, Canada and the United Arab Emirates make up Group A.
India, Ireland, South Africa and Uganda are in Group B while Group D has Scotland, Australia, Sri Lanka and hosts West Indies.
The top two teams in each group qualify for the Super League stages while the bottom two drop to contest in the less glamorous Plate competition.
Zimbabwe Under-19 squad:
Emmanuel Bawa (captain), Brian Bennett (vice-captain), David Bennett, Victor Chirwa, Mgcini Dube, Alex Falao, Tendekai Mataranyika, Tashinga Makoni, Connor Mitchell, Steven Saul, Matthew Schonken, Panashe Taruvinga, Matthew Welch, Rogan Wolhuter, Ngenyasha Zvinoera
Non-travelling reserves: Aisha Chibanda, Tanaka Zvaita, Luyanda Mtomba, Tadiwanashe Mwale, Declan Rugg.
Online Reporter