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Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE are set to face former world champions West Indies in the last hurdle for the Super Six stage of the World Cup Qualifier which promises fireworks across venues in Harare and Bulawayo next month.
The Chevrons fixtures were confirmed when the International Cricket Council announced the tournament schedule yesterday.
Zimbabwe and the two-time champions West Indies headline Group A, which also has the Netherlands, USA and minnows Nepal.
Sri Lanka, who won the World Cup in 1996 and were runners up in 2007 and 2011, are favourites in Group B which also has Ireland, Scotland, Oman and UAE.
The 10-team qualifying tournament is expected to take place 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.
Hosts Zimbabwe will get the ball rolling on the opening match day at Harare Sports Club against Nepal, who are aiming to qualify for the Men’s Cricket World Cup for the first time.
Two-time Men’s Cricket World Cup champions West Indies will also be in action on the same day against neighbours USA at Takashinga Cricket Club.
Group B commences on June 19 in Bulawayo with Sri Lanka facing the UAE at Queen’s Sports Club, while in the other match at Bulawayo Athletic Club, Ireland will face off against Oman.
This is the second time Zimbabwe has been granted the rights by the ICC to play the Qualifier on home soil, following the successful hosting of a similar event in 2018.
Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani has promised a top-notch tournament.
“We are looking forward to an unforgettable treat of great, entertaining and competitive cricket, something that is guaranteed considering the quality of the teams participating in the tournament.
“Apart from the magic that the game itself is promising, this event presents us as the hosts with an incredible opportunity to showcase not only the passion for cricket in Zimbabwe but also the warmth of our people as well as the breath-taking beauty of our country and its tourist attractions,” said Mukuhlani.
Queen’s Sports Club and Bulawayo Athletic Club in Bulawayo, Harare Sports Club and Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare will share 34 matches between them, with Harare Sports Club staging the final on July 9.
Old Hararians Cricket Club will also host warm-up fixtures.
The 10 teams taking part in the qualifier are split into two groups of five teams.
Each match will be high stakes, with teams contesting for two places at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India that gives them nine guaranteed matches at cricket’s ODI global show-piece.
Each side will play the other teams in their group once with the top three from each group progressing to the Super Six stage. In the Super Six, they will play the sides they did not meet in the group stage.
All points won in the group stage will be carried over to the Super Six stage apart from those gained against the teams that fail to make it to the Super Six stage. The finalists will both progress to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
The domestic local cricket fans will be keen to see how the Chevrons fare this time around following the disappointment they suffered at the last event when they fell to minnows UAE in the decisive match at the Harare Sports Club and subsequently missed the World Cup finals for the first time since their 1983 debut.
The priority will be to reach the Super Six stage which commences on June 29. For the first time in this tournament, DRS will be used for all matches from the Super Six stage onwards.
The Qualifier is the culmination of four years of hard-fought competition that brings together the bottom five teams from the ICC Men’s CWC Super League, three automatic qualifiers from the ICC Men’s CWC League 2 and two teams who gained entry from the ICC Men’s CWC Qualifier Play-off.
ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said the qualifying process gives opportunities to all cricket playing nations.
“The countdown to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is entering the final stages and this event presents an incredible opportunity for teams to earn a place in the pinnacle event of one-day cricket.
“The stakes don’t get any bigger in what will be a very competitive event enjoyed by fans looking to see who will join the eight teams that have already booked their tickets to India.
“With two former Men’s Cricket World Cup champions among the contenders as well as emerging cricket nations who are aiming to qualify for the first time, this unique event, featuring teams from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe will be a showcase of the global game.”
Online Reporter