Young Chevrons leave for South Africa

THE country’s next generation of cricketers is set to leave today for South Africa where they will compete against 15 other nations in the 2024 International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Under-19 World Cup.

Zimbabwe’s Under-19 team was placed in Group C of the 15th edition of the global showpiece which was moved from Sri Lanka to South Africa. The tournament is scheduled to start on January 19 and an early travel will award Zimbabwe the opportunity to acclimatise with the conditions.

The World Cup will now be hosted by South Africa after the initial hosts, Sri Lanka were suspended from competing in ICC events.

However, Sri Lanka’s Under-19 team was allowed to take part in the World Cup and are in the same group as Zimbabwe, whom they will face in the first match of the tournament.

The team had five days to rest in Zimbabwe having arrived from a training camp in India — where they spent two weeks — on December 29. During their camp in India, Zimbabwe Under-19s played practice matches against various clubs in Mumbai and managed to produce good results, winning their last match against NMSA Select by five wickets.

They will also be going to the World Cup with new kit bags which they received from OMTEX ICWC Cricket Institute in Mumbai.

Zimbabwe’s opponents in Group C of the World Cup are Australia, Sri Lanka and Namibia.

Prosper Utseya’s starlets will open their campaign on January 21 against Sri Lanka at the Kimberley Oval in the Northern Cape city of Kimberley.

Zimbabwe will then take on Australia on January 25 before facing Namibia in the last group fixture on January 27 at the same venue.

Five time winners of the coveted silverware and defending champions India are placed in Group A with Bangladesh, Ireland and the United States of America as they attempt to claim a record sixth Under-19 title.

Group B consists of South Africa, England, West Indies and Scotland, while Group D is made up of Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand and Nepal

The top three sides from each group progress to the Super Six phase of the event ahead of the semi-finals and final in Benoni.

Zimbabwe Under-19 team has been putting in the works ahead of the World Cup including a tour to South Africa at the beginning of the month where they played against Dolphins Under-19s (South African franchise team) and the South Africa Under-19 team.

Earlier this year, the squad also toured India where they played against various clubs from the Asian nation.

Zimbabwe will be captained by all rounder, Mathew Schonken at the World Cup while Panashe Taruvinga will be the vice skipper. – @brandon_malvin