The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe national Under-19 cricket team is heading to Bulawayo this week as part of preparations for next year’s International Cricket Council Under-19 World Cup in West Indies.
Coached by Prosper Utseya, the Zimbabwean lads started their final camp in Harare last Monday. They arrive in Bulawayo tomorrow, hold a training session at Queens Sports Club on Tuesday before they take on Tuskers in a 50 over match at the same venue on Wednesday prior to departing for Harare on Thursday.
Utseya took advantage of the fact that Tuskers were on a bye from Pro50 Championship action to arrange the match for his team.
Nine more matches are lined up for the youngsters in Harare and Mutare, with the final squad to be announced on 7 December. A sendoff dinner is set to take place in Harare on 2 January before the team leaves for West Indies two days later.
Zimbabwe are in Group C with Afghanistan, Pakistan and Papua New Guinea. The Zimbabwean lads take on Afghanistan at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex in Trinidad and Tobago on 16 January. After facing Afghanistan, Zimbabwe next take on Papua New Guinea again at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex in Trinidad and Tobago on 20 January.
Two days later, Zimbabwe go up against Pakistan at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago.
Utseya has declared that his players will try their best despite being drawn against Afghanistan and Pakistan who finished higher than Zimbabwe at the 2020 ICC Under-19 World Cup held in South Africa. Pakistan secured third spot at the last tournament while Afghanistan were seventh at an event in which Zimbabwe finished eleventh.
“It’s a tough group considering the rankings of last two editions of the tournament, Afghanistan and Pakistan have done well. With that said we will give it our best shot,’’ Utseya said.
At the last Under-19 World Cup, Zimbabwe, led by all-rounder Dion Myers picked up three wins out of the six matches they played, two of those victories recorded over Scotland and another against Canada.
That 11th place finish ensured Zimbabwe of an automatic place at the 2022 edition, which meant that they did not have to go through the qualifiers.
Zimbabwe have over the years failed to replicate their impressive displays at the 2004 and 2006 editions of the tournament. In 2004 and 2006, Zimbabwe reached the Super League, which meant a top eight finish at the 16-team tournament.
At the 2004 tournament held in Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, captained by Tinotenda Mawoyo beat Australia and Canada to secure second spot in the group, with their only pool defeat coming against Sri Lanka.
That remarkable show saw Zimbabwe clash with big guns such as Pakistan, England and New Zealand in the Super League where they however found the going tough, with their win coming against New Zealand in their last match at the tournament having lost to Pakistan and England.
In 2006, this time captained by Sean Williams, who was also part of the squad for the 2004 tournament topped their pool after impressive wins over England, Nepal and Ireland. Zimbabwe’s journey was brought to an end by Pakistan who won the quarterfinal clash by five wickets before another loss, this time by eight wickets to Sri Lanka in a Super League playoff. -Follow on Twitter @Mdawini_29
