adminWorld Cup 2013 in Bangladesh next week.
The senior team will be battling with neighbours South Africa, Sri Lanka, Netherlands and United States of America in Group A of the qualifiers which start on Monday.
Zimbabwe and neighbours South Africa are the only African teams still in contention for a World Cup place after they excelled at the African Regional qualifiers in Kenya last December.
Zimbabwe lost to South Africa and this time they will meet again but the skipper is confident that they will turn the tables.
Speaking ahead of today’s departure for the tournament, which will run from November 14-25, Mayers said they were ready for the task.
“We are prepared to go there and play cricket and win games and get a place at the World Cup.
“The only team we are familiar with is South Africa and we have been working on where we went wrong. We are also looking forward to a good performance when we play the other teams as we haven’t seen them,” said Mayers.
Mayers, one of the team’s top run scorers, is a complete all-rounder given that she also keeps wicket.
The 19-year-old took over the captaincy from veteran Julia Chibhabha.
The team has been in camp for the past two weeks and last month toured Botswana where they played Twenty20 and One-Day Internationals finishing the series unbeaten in both formats.
Coach Alistair Zowe believes his team was ready for the assignment.
“We have tried to work so much on our confidence.
“It seems all players are now raring to go. We have senior players like Julia, Thando (Mlilo) and Sinikiwe Mpofu who have been there since the first qualifiers. And we also have youngsters like Audrey Mazvishaya and Modester Mupachikwa.
“The less people know about us the better. It’s more of a surprise to other teams. All the girls had programmes to work on and recently had a tour to Botswana in hot conditions. I think we have done quite a lot to help ourselves,” said Zowe.
Chibhabha and Mlilo are the most experienced cricketers in the squad after they were selected to take part at the Afro-Asia Twenty20 competition in 2007. One of the up-and-coming players, Ashley Ndiraya, is also relishing the opportunity to represent her country in the World Cup qualifiers.
“It would be a step ahead and taking part for the first time I am really happy to be part of it,” said Ndiraya.
Squad
Sharne Meyers (captain), Julia Chibhabha, Precious Marange, Ashley Ndiraya, Sharyce Saili, Modester Mupachikwa, Pellagia Mujaji, Nonhlanhla Nyathi, Sinikiwe Mpofu, Thandolwenkosi Mlilo, Christabel Chatonzwa, Sarah Dambanevana, Audrey Mazvishaya, Loreen Tshuma.
Online Reporter