Andrew
Brighton Zhawi
AS Zimbabwe’s Chevrons brace for another International Cricket Council (ICC) qualifier on home soil, 2018, when the country hosted a similar tournament that left a trail of broken hearts, now seems like a lifetime ago.
So is this ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier B an opportunity to heal from the three-run Duckworth-Lewis loss to United Arab Emirates (UAE) on March 22 that left Harare Sports Club stunned?
On that fateful day, there was stunned silence as Zimbabwe missed out on qualification for the 2019 World Cup.
Craig Ervine described it as “the only time I have cried on a cricket field’’.
Surely, Ervine wouldn’t want a repeat of the same when the Chevrons face Jersey, an island of around 100 000 people; world cricket minnows Singapore; and United States of America, who have been rated the dark horses in Group A.
Netherlands, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Hong Kong and Uganda complete teams in the tournament that will run between July 11 and July 17.
The two finalists will qualify for the T20 World Cup in Australia in October.
There are high expectations Zimbabwe will be one of those two teams.
On the other hand, this is a special year for Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) as they mark 30 years since their inaugural Test match when they hosted India for a Test match from October 18 to October 22.
It has been four years since the last home qualifier and many things have changed.
Hamilton Masakadza, the batter who opened at the time, is now part of ZC’s top brass.
His opening partner Solomon Mire is back in Australia and former captain Graeme Cremer is now based in the UAE.
Brian Vitori has been away from the public eye for some time, while the big-hitting Cephas Zhuwao is now a player/coach at Rocks.
Kyle Jarvis, the man who was with Ervine for that last over against UAE, is now a ZC scout, while PJ Moor could be chasing an Irish dream.
Malcolm Waller is pursuing other businesses and Tendai Chisoro hasn’t played for Zimbabwe since May 2021.
Legend Brendan Taylor is on a recovery path after revelations of addiction to cocaine and former coach Heath Streak is serving an eight-year ban for breaching ICC’s anti-corruption code.
This coming qualifier provides a chance to heal from the heartbreak of 2018.
Some familiar faces are still there – Sean Williams is making a comeback, Sikandar Raza is fresh from a successful stint in a Bangladesh league and Ervine is now the captain.
Tendai Chatara is still the opening bowler partnering an experienced Blessing Muzarabani.
There is also new blood in Wesley Madhevere and his best mate Milton Shumba, who have both played in three ICC Cricket U19 World Cups.
They would love to play one at senior level.
And the team is now in the hands of a man who knows a thing or two about the World Cup – Dave Houghton, who has since called for fearless cricket and a relaxed environment, as demonstrated by the Chevrons’ night in the jungle at Antelope Park on their way to Bulawayo last week.
“It was a good and very relaxing day and good time together, although a bit cold,” Houghton said.
“We saw a fair amount of game, had a good braai together and had a team chat this morning for me to get our approach and style of play across.”
Come July 17, expectations will be that Zimbabwe will be toasting to a T20 World Cup qualification; in the process, exorcising the UAE ghost of 2018.
Online Reporter