Zimbabwe are again on the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Having missed final 12 months’s occasion within the UAE and Oman, they’ll return to the massive stage for the primary time since 2016.
Powered by in-form all-rounder Sikandar Raza, Dave Houghton’s facet will hope to make an enormous impression of their fifth ICC Men’s T20 World Cup marketing campaign.
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2022 T20 World Cup prospects
Zimbabwe used house benefit to full impact to seal their spot in Australia. The Chevrons dominated the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier B in Bulawayo, successful 5 video games on the bounce with a sequence of commanding performances.
They have been constantly capable of entry first-innings totals in direction of 200 and when the batters faltered, the bowling unit stepped up. That was keenly felt within the last when Zimbabwe have been bowled out for 132 however then proceeded to skittle the Dutch for 95 to take general victory within the Qualifier.
Earlier this 12 months they confirmed promising indicators in a 3-0 T20I sequence defeat to Afghanistan and would have been disillusioned to be edged 3-2 within the sequence in opposition to African rivals Namibia.
Houghton is bullish on his facet’s prospects of navigating the First Round, the place they face a tough draw within the form of two-time winners West Indies, Ireland and Scotland.
T20 World Cup historical past
Zimbabwe’s first act on the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007 noticed them pull off one of the well-known upsets within the occasion’s historical past.
Prosper Utseya’s facet turned over a star-studded Australia, topped ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup champions in 2003, by 5 wickets in an unimaginable match at Newlands.
Elton Chigumbura did the injury with the ball, accounting for each Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden, earlier than Brendan Taylor’s unbeaten 60 noticed them to victory.
Zimbabwe received two video games for the primary time in India in 2016, seeing off Hong Kong and Scotland, albeit defeat to Afghanistan put paid to their Super 12 possibilities.
Best batters
Raza is among the type gamers in white-ball worldwide cricket this 12 months, named Player of the Tournament within the Qualifier.
Playing within the center order, the 36-year-old’s strike charge within the shortest type of the sport has risen from 106.93 to 152.21 in a matter of months.
His tremendous type within the ODI format noticed him lead Zimbabwe to a house sequence win over Pakistan in August, their first 50-over sequence win over a serious nation in 5 years.
Raza will search for skipper Craig Ervine, coming back from a hamstring damage, to put a platform within the powerplay after which dominate the opposing assault within the center overs.
Best bowlers
Various Zimbabwe’s frontline bowlers have shaken off accidents to make the 15-strong squad for Australia.
Tendai Chatara (collarbone), Wellington Masakadza (shoulder tendon) and Blessing Muzarabani (thigh) are all again within the fold within the nick of time.
Whether they’re coming in undercooked stays to be seen, however the seam battery may have some assist from spin-bowling all-rounder Ryan Burl and Raza’s helpful off-spin.
Fixtures
With Group B video games all happening at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval, Zimbabwe start in opposition to Ireland on 17 October.
They face West Indies on 19 October earlier than their First Round ends in opposition to Scotland on 21 October.
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