ZIMBABWE Under-19 cricket side have set sights on making the Super Eight stage of the World Cup which roars to life in Dubai next month. Munyaradzi Madzokere SPORTS REPORTER
Having been together for quite a while preparing for the global event, the age group national team is confident of progressing in Group C where they have been drawn against neighbours South Africa, the West Indies as well as minnows Canada.
Only the top two teams will advance to the next level of competition.
Sister paper StandardSport caught up with coach Walter Chawaguta who shared the team’s ambitions at this year’s cricket Under-19 World Cup.
“The first thing we want to do is to qualify for the quarter-finals which is the Super Eight stage of the competitions and then from there we can see how it goes. But of course we would love to progress further,” he said. However, Chawaguta stressed that it is not going to be an easy task, revealing that they have been busy trying to know more about their opponents.
“We have studied our main rivals in the group South Africa and the West Indies. We have realised that both teams struggle against spin, so we are going use it as our main attack and if we can back it up with quality batting, then we will upset one of those two,” Chawaguta declared.
“It means that the spotlight shifts to our main spinners namely Dylan Hondo, Herbert Chikomba and Kieran Geyle to come to the party in Dubai.”
Sadly the batting line-up, Zimbabwe’s achilles heel in recent times, suffered an injury blow losing top batter Dylan Nel who will be out for five months with an ankle injury.
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Chawaguta spoke about other injuries worries that have plagued his squad.
“I can confirm that we have lost Nel who is out for five months injured while Hondo and Mkhululi Nyathi should be back next week. We also expect all-rounder Ryan Burl back the following week,” he said.
