Zim cricket team in tough ICC T20 draw

compete favourably in a tough ICC World Twenty20 group that includes hosts Sri Lanka and South Africa.
Mangongo yesterday acknowledged that Zimbabwe were the underdogs in the group but said they could not have hoped for a better draw since the game has become competitive.
“It’s a tough group because these guys are serious operators,” he said.
“International cricket has become tough anyway, but personally I believe that in Twenty20 cricket it really doesn’t matter who you face.

“You just need to be on top of your game and keep hoping for the best,” said Mangongo.
The tournament, which features 12 teams, will run from September 18 to October 7 2012.
Zimbabwe will play their first game against Sri Lanka in Hambantota under floodlights on the opening day before engaging neighbours South Africa two days later at the same venue.

“Of course playing a team of the calibre of South Africa or Sri Lanka is a great challenge but the good thing is you cannot hide from it.
“In fact we need to face such challenges time and again to improve our game.
“I also view it as an opportunity which the boys should grab because that’s the only way to go,” said Mangongo. Defending champions England will face India and one qualifier in Group A while Australia and West

Indies will be joined by another qualifier in Group B.
Pakistan, who won the 2009 tournament in England, have been placed in Group D with New Zealand and Bangladesh, and will play their matches in Pallekele on 23 and 25 September. Pallekele will also host the New Zealand-Bangladesh match on 21 September.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Eight Stage, which precedes the semi-finals on September 27.

Zimbabwe performed badly in the last Twenty20 Championships in the West Indies and Mangongo said they were hoping to use their schedule in the next 12 months to work on their weaknesses. “We have been making steady progress in terms of the actual game but it seems we are still lacking maturity and confidence.

“These are some of the key issues of the game we are lacking and that is why we lost to Pakistan recently. “There is still an element of fear but the more we play with the big boys the better we get. “I hope we will be able to get some of these things right in our schedule for the next 12-18 months,” said Mangongo.