Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE heavens, not the opposition, were the first test facing Zimbabwe’s Under 19s on the eve of the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup as rain clouds rolled across Harare and Bulawayo, threatening to disrupt today’s opening matches.
Zimbabwe are due to open their campaign against Scotland at Takashinga Sports Club, but weather forecasts for the capital point to four or five days of unsettled conditions, with rain expected for the next week.
In Bulawayo, where India face the United States of America at Queens Sports Club, thunderstorms are forecast to linger for much of the week.
Namibia, the tournament’s co-host, looks slightly better placed. Windhoek is expected to be cloudy but with lower chances of rain, where West Indies meet debutants Tanzania at the HP Oval to complete the opening day programme.
In Harare on Wednesday afternoon, showers cut short Zimbabwe’s final training session, leaving assistant coach Nobert Manyande scanning the sky instead of the nets.
“It’s something out of our control, but we are certainly hoping and praying that today the skies open up a bit so that the sun comes out and cricket can be played,” said Manyande.
“As I said, it is out of our control. We can’t change the weather, but we are cricketers and we want to get onto that field and play. The boys want it and they are ready for the challenge.”
Weather interruptions are not new to this group. During the recent Youth One Day International tri series against Afghanistan and Pakistan, rain wiped out Zimbabwe’s opening fixtures against both teams. One 19 run victory over Afghanistan was enough to push them into the final, where Pakistan swept them aside by nine wickets.
That experience, rather than the result, has shaped Zimbabwe’s build up to the World Cup. The technical team has deliberately downplayed outcomes, focusing instead on clarity of roles and settling combinations in both batting and bowling.
“We’ve been trying to finalise which combinations work in our batting line up and our bowling partnerships,” said Manyande. “A few guys have managed to score runs. The bowling has been tested on numerous occasions, but we’ve come back with answers and tried to fix the things we needed to fix.”
Those preparations have been scrutinised closely after Zimbabwe’s batting faltered during the tri-series and again in Monday’s heavy defeat to New Zealand, a result that reignited concerns about the side’s weakest department.
“I wouldn’t say we are worried,” Manyande said.
“We played strong teams and those performances were a wake up call for some of the players. They now understand what is required at this level and they need to match it. We’ve been working with them over the last couple of days. Our batting hasn’t been great, but we’ve had guys get starts and some half centuries. Hopefully that work shows now that the World Cup is here.”
Zimbabwe have been drawn in Pool C alongside England, Pakistan and Scotland, a section that leaves little room for error. Today’s meeting with Scotland is effectively a must win before a clash with England on Sunday, followed by a final group game against Pakistan on January 22, all scheduled for Takashinga Sports Club.
“We’ve had a look at Scotland and we’re quite confident we can play a good game against them,” said Manyande. “With England and Pakistan, we know what they bring. Those will be tough match ups, but if we play to our full potential, we can produce results.”
Mathew Masinge