Chronicle Editor
Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Cricket (ZC) has announced the squad for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 to be staged from 19 January to 11 February in South Africa.
The country’s next generation of cricketers will be captained by batting all-rounder, Matthew Schonken and he will be deputised by Panashe Taruvinga at the global showpiece.
The two youngsters are the only ones in the 15-member squad who featured at the last edition of the biennial global youth tournament held in the West Indies in 2022 and will bring valuable experience to the side.
Under the tutelage of former Zimbabwe international, Prosper Utseya, some of the players who made the cut include Munashe Chimusoro, Shaun Dzakatira, Ryan Kamwemba, Ronak Patel, Mashford Shungu and Anesu Kamuriwo who have all been touted among the country’s most promising talents after showing glimpses of their potential in top domestic competitions such as the National Premier League (NPL).
Zimbabwe are in Group C alongside Australia, Namibia and Sri Lanka.
Last week, the ICC also released the fixtures schedule for the tournament and Utseya’s starlets will open their campaign on 21 January against Sri Lanka at the Kimberley Oval in the Northern Cape city of Kimberley.
Zimbabwe will then take on Australia on 25 January before facing Namibia in the last group fixture on 27 January at the same venue.
Defending champions India are placed in Group A with Bangladesh, Ireland, and the United States of America as they attempt to claim a record sixth Under-19 title.
Group B consists of South Africa, England, West Indies and Scotland, while Group D is made up of Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand and Nepal.
The top three sides from each group progress to the Super Six phase of the event ahead of the semi-finals and final in Benoni.
Zimbabwe is currently in India as part of their final preparations for the World Cup, having also toured South Africa last week.
ZIMBABWE SQUAD FOR ICC UNDER-19 MEN’S CRICKET WORLD CUP 2024:
Nathaniel Hlabangana (Falcon College), Panashe Taruvinga (St Charles College, South Africa), Ronak Patel (Hellenic Academy), Campbell MacMillan (Peterhouse Boys),Ryan Kamwemba (Prince Edward High School), Brendon Sunguro (St Charles College,South Africa), Calton Takawira (Wise Owl High School), Matthew Schonken (Hellenic Academy), Anesu Kamuriwo (Mountaineers), Newman Nyamhuri (St Charles College, South Africa), Mashford Shungu (Mountaineers), Kohl Eksteen (Peterhouse Boys), Panashe Gwatiringa (Wise Owl High School), Shaun Dzakatira (Milton High School), Munashe Chimusoro (Christian Brothers College)
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