Young Chevrons swap Christmas cheer for cricket battles

Tinashe Kusema, Zimpapers Sports Hub

WHILE most of their age-mates will be tearing open presents and planning Christmas Day festivities, Zimbabwe’s Under-19 cricketers will be pulling on their kits and getting down to business.

December 25 marks the start of a Triangular Series involving hosts Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Afghanistan — the final competitive step before the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. For these boys, Christmas comes dressed in match balls, team meetings and long days under the sun.

The series forms part of Zimbabwe’s final build-up ahead of the global showpiece scheduled for January 15 to February 6, 2026, with a handful of warm-up matches also lined up before the tournament proper.

Head coach Elton Chigumbura has made no secret of his belief that constant match exposure is the backbone of their World Cup push. He feels the groundwork has already been laid.

“We have played a lot of games to prepare ourselves for the World Cup tournament. The key thing here has been to give the boys as much exposure as possible, and I think we have done that by playing the likes of South Africa, Bangladesh and Ireland.

“Before the actual tournament, we have another tri-series against Pakistan and Afghanistan. So, when it comes to exposure, these guys have got international experience. Now, it’s just a matter of polishing up before the tournament starts,” said Chigumbura.

The message is shared in the dressing room. Captain Simbarashe Mudzengerere showed no hesitation when asked about sacrificing Christmas, seeing it as part of the price of chasing something bigger.

“For one to be able to conquer something, one needs to make sacrifices. We have willingly sacrificed our Christmas for the job and to make sure we prepare as best as possible for the World Cup. Here, that means taking part in the Tri-series,” he said.

Beyond the immediate series, Mudzengerere believes the past two years of preparation have steadily shaped the group, with this final stretch offering a chance to sharpen what is already in place.

“It’s been a good two years with the boys, preparing for the World Cup. We have had a couple of tours, played tri-series against South Africa and Bangladesh, and it was good preparation for the challenges that lie ahead.

“We also played Ireland, and all these tours and matches gave us the necessary exposure. Most of our players also took part in the National Premier League (NPL), so we are not short on game time,” said the skipper.

With the World Cup to be staged at home, anticipation is rising — along with the weight of expectation. Mudzengerere admits the atmosphere will be different, but sees familiarity as a powerful ally.

“I can say there is a little pressure, but it’s an advantage to us to play at home. We are going to play on conditions that we are all too familiar with. We know the fields and how the wickets perform, so that will be an advantage to us.

“The morale is high, the boys are looking good and working with coach Elton Chigumbura has been a highlight for most of us. We grew up idolising him, watching him on television, and now we have been allowed to interact and learn from him,” he said.

For a group on the edge of the biggest stage of their young careers, Christmas will come and go quietly. The work, they believe, will speak louder later.