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Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Cricket have said the upcoming ICC World Cup qualifier games will not be played under the floodlights.
Expectations have been high that some of the games will be day-night affairs following the refurbishments that are currently taking place at the country’s major cricket venue, Harare Sports Club, which include the completion of the long-drawn-out project for the installation of the floodlights.
The floodlights project, which has taken over a decade to complete, is likely to be done and dusted by the end of May, according to the Zimbabwe Cricket managing director Givemore Makoni.
But the lights will not be used for the qualifying tournament that gets underway in June.
“The installation of floodlights is progressing well at the Harare Sports Club. The work on the floodlights should be finished by the end of May.
“But these lights will not be used for the upcoming World Cup qualifier matches. It’s a project that has been ongoing and is now in its final stages. The lights will be used for future tours,” said Makoni.
Zimbabwe are set to the 10-team qualifying tournament in Harare and Bulawayo between June 18 and July 9, with only two spots available for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India later in the year.
Harare Sports Club and Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo are set to be the main hosting venues. Takashinga Sports Club, which previously hosted the women’s World Cup Qualifier is also in line to host some of the matches while Old Hararians and Sunrise in Harare will be used for practice games. Makoni said the tournament organisers and the grounds men are putting in the hard yards to ensure that the venues will be in mint condition for the Qualifier.
Zimbabwe are not new to events of this magnitude as they hosted a similar qualifying tournament successfully in 2018.
“Work is in progress on all the hosting venues as well as the practice venues. Actually there are three or four venues that we are looking at in Harare.
“Harare Sports Club and Takashinga will be the hosting venues and Old Hararians will be available for practice. We are also likely to use Sunrise Sports Club as a practice venue, it’s on standby.
“As we speak, Harare Sports Club is in very good condition. We have been working on the outfield at Takashanga. The ground has been closed for some time for the replanting of grass and now it is looking good,” said Makoni.
“We are also going to have some games in Bulawayo at Queens Sports Club, which is in great condition, just like the Harare Sports Club. Work is also ongoing at Bulawayo Athletic Club which would be used for practice.
“All these facilities have hosted the World Cup Qualifiers before, except for Sunrise, and the people that run them know what is expected,” said Makoni.
Excitement has already started building up with the hosts promising to stage yet another memorable event.
Host Tournament Director Hamilton Masakadza, who played for Zimbabwe at the last edition of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier that was also staged in the country in 2018, is looking forward to delivering a world-class event.
“We are thrilled to be hosting a tournament of such magnitude and global significance, bringing together 10 teams boasting some of the world’s most gifted and talented players to fight it out in Harare and Bulawayo for two places at the World Cup,” he told the Zimbabwe Cricket media recently.
“We are working round the clock to spruce up our facilities to ensure, come June, we are ready to deliver yet another unforgettable event — bigger and better than last time.”
Zimbabwe will be joined by West Indies, Sri-Lanka, Netherlands, with Ireland most likely to also be part of the jamboree if they fail to get a 3-0 win in their upcoming tour of Bangladesh.
Oman, Nepal and Scotland are also coming as the top three from the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 while USA and the United Arab Emirates booked their places by virtue of finishing top during the recent 2023 World Cup Qualifier Playoff in Namibia.
The ICC confirmed that the Decision Review System will not be available for the World Cup Qualifier, but there will be a third-umpire monitoring run-outs.
DRS was introduced by the ICC in 2009, and its bills for non-World Cup events are funded by the host broadcasters. Some of the cricket nations find it too expensive a service to avail. It was first introduced in the 50-over World Cup in 2011.
Online Reporter