Zimbabwe-Windies clash headlines World Cup Qualifiers

THE International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the fixtures schedule for next month’s Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe.

All the matches will be played across four venues in Harare and Bulawayo. The venues in the capital are Harare Sports Club and Takashinga Sports Club, while the City of Kings’ matches will be at Queens Sports Club and Bulawayo Country Club (BAC).

The 10 teams taking part in the tournament split into two groups of five teams.
Group A is made up of former World Cup winners, West Indies, Nepal, United States of America (USA), Netherlands and the hosts, Zimbabwe while Group B has Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Group A matches will be played in Harare while Group B matches will take place in Bulawayo.
The top three teams from each group will progress to the Super Six stage where each team will play three matches against the sides they did not meet in the group stage.

All points won in the groups will be carried over to the Super Six stage, apart from those gained against the bottom two from each group.

“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 Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani.

ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said the tournament will be a showcase of the global game and will be an interesting and highly competitive event that will be enjoyed by fans from all over the world.

“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,” said Allardice in a statement.

From the fixtures, some of the matches to look out for include the headlining clash pitting the Chevrons and the Windies, scheduled for June 24 at Harare Sports Club. The group’s third round fixture will play a huge role in determining the group’s outcome.

The two teams haven’t played each other in the format since the corresponding Qualifier tournament in 2018, where the West Indies won by six wickets and with an over remaining at Harare Sports Club.

Zimbabwe will open their campaign against Nepal at Harare Sports Club on Sunday June 18 before going on to face the Netherlands on Tuesday June 20 at the same venue.

The Windies will open their campaign against USA at Takashinga Sports Club on June 18. On Thursday June 22, the Caribbeans will go up against Nepal at Harare Sports Club before the big clash against the Chevrons.

Zimbabwe’s last group fixture will be against the USA at the same venue on June 26 while the Windies will be up against Netherlands at Takashinga.

For cricket fans in Bulawayo, there will be some interesting encounters such as the two highest ranked teams in Group B, Sri Lanka and Ireland whose match is scheduled for June 25 at Queens Sports Club.

Sri Lanka have enjoyed a good run against the Irish in red ball cricket but Ireland’s strength in the shorter version, thus making it even more interesting.

The other matches that are likely to give fans in Bulawayo a run for their money include the ones pitting Ireland and Scotland and also Sri Lanka vs Scotland could prove pivotal in the group.

ICC MEN’S CRICKET WORLD CUP
QUALIFIER FIXTURES:
Sunday, 18 June:
Zimbabwe v Nepal, Harare Sports Club
West Indies v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club
Monday, 19 June
Sri Lanka v UAE, Queens Sports Club
Ireland v Oman, Bulawayo Athletic Club
Tuesday, 20 June
Zimbabwe v Netherlands, Harare Sports Club
Nepal v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club
Wednesday, 21 June
Ireland v Scotland, Queens Sports Club
Oman v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club
Thursday, 22 June
West Indies v Nepal, Harare Sports Club
Netherlands v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club
Friday, 23 June
Sri Lanka v Oman, Queens Sports Club
Scotland v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club
Saturday, 24 June
Zimbabwe v West Indies, Harare Sports Club
Netherlands v Nepal, Takashinga Cricket Club
Sunday, 25 June
Sri Lanka v Ireland, Queens Sports Club
Scotland v Oman, Bulawayo Athletic Club
Monday, 26 June
Zimbabwe v USA, Harare Sports Club
West Indies v Netherlands, Takashinga Cricket Club
Tuesday, 27 June
Sri Lanka v Scotland, Queens Sports Club
Ireland v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club
Thursday, 29 June
Super 6: A2 v B2, Queens Sports Club
Friday, 30 June
Super 6: A3 v B1, Queens Sports Club
Playoff: A5 v B4, Takashinga Cricket Club
Saturday, 1 July
Super 6: A1 v B3, Harare Sports Club
Sunday, 2 July
Super 6: A2 v B1, Queens Sports Club
Playoff: A4 v B5, Takashinga Cricket Club
Monday, 3 July
Super 6: A3 v B2, Harare Sports Club
Tuesday, 4 July
Super 6: A2 v B3, Queens Sports Club
Playoff: 7th v 8th Takashinga Cricket Club
Wednesday, 5 July
Super Six: A1 v B2, Harare Sports Club
Thursday, 6 July
Super Six: A3 v B3, Queens Sports Club
Playoff: 9th v 10th Takashinga Cricket Club
Friday, 07 July
Super Six: A1 v B1, Harare Sports Club
Sunday, 09 July
Final, Harare Sports Club
WARM-UP FIXTURES:
Tuesday, 13 June
West Indies v Scotland, Harare Sports Club
Zimbabwe v Oman, Takashinga Cricket Club
Nepal v UAE, Old Hararians Cricket Club
Sri Lanka v Netherlands, Queens Sports Club
Ireland v USA, Bulawayo Athletic Club
Thursday, 15 June
Nepal v Oman, Harare Sports Club
West Indies v UAE, Takashinga Cricket Club
Zimbabwe v Scotland, Old Hararians Cricket Club
Ireland v Netherlands, Queens Sports Club
Sri Lanka v USA, Bulawayo Athletic Club.
— @brandon_malvin