ZIM ARE BACK BUT WHAT’S NEXT?

ZIMBABWE are back at a World Cup after 2022, having failed to qualify for the 2023 ODI tournament and as the only Full Member to miss out on the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Their most pressing task of late was simply ensuring they have a seat at the table.

The last time Zimbabwe participated in this tournament, the format was different and they did reasonably well.

In Australia, Zimbabwe progressed from the first round to the Super 12s, where they lost to two teams they would consider as being on a similar standing to them – Bangladesh and Netherlands.

This time, Zimbabwe have been grouped alongside two former champions, Australia and Sri Lanka, which means moving to the Super Eights could be a bridge too far but Zimbabwe would see beating Oman and Ireland as a minimum requirement.

To do that, they will need to find runs from batters other than the known names – Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor and, more recently, Brian Bennett.

They will also hope their balanced bowling attack performs well.

In Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans, they have pace, swing and variation, and a spin contingent that includes off-spin (Raza), left-arm spin (Wellington Masakadza) and leg spin Graeme Cremer and Ryan Burl.

Bennett is a prodigious talent, who has at least one century in each format in international cricket and was the leading run scorer in the Africa Region Qualifiers. – ESPNCricinfo