Zimpapers Logo

Eddie Chikamhi Harare Bureau
THE Zimbabwe cricket team has been challenged to do well at the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup to put the smile back on the face of a nation depressed by the Warriors’ pathetic failure to qualify for the Nations Cup finals in Equatorial Guinea.The country’s band of cricketers are scheduled to fly out of the country today for their tour of duty in Australia and New Zealand where they will get their campaign underway against one of the pre-tournament favourites South Africa.

Zimbabwe are in Group B that features defending champions India, South Africa, Pakistan, West Indies, United Arab Emirates and Ireland.

The players and the technical team mingled with fans at Town House in Harare where they signed autographs and had photo shoots.

Deputy Mayor of Harare, Thomas Muzuva, who hosted the players at Town House, said it was important that the cricketers deliver during their tour of duty Down Under.

Muzuva said Zimbabweans were behind the team and looking for solace from the ICC World Cup following the failure by the football team to reach the Afcon finals.

“Go out there and show the true Zimbabwean spirit of resilience, fight, dedication, love for one another and above all the spirit of winning. As we speak today there’s the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Equatorial Guinea. Our soccer guys didn’t make it there.

“We’ve now deposited all our faith and hope in you the cricket team. So go out there and bring smiles on our faces,” said Muzuva. Zimbabwe top order batsman Brendan Taylor says the team leaves for New Zealand today in high spirits as they hope to cause an upset and progress to the quarter-finals at the ICC World Cup scheduled to get underway in a fortnight.

The World Cup will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand from February 14 to March 29.

Taylor, who is one of the most experienced players in the Zimbabwe side, yesterday said they were looking to do better than their performances at the last World Cup when they crashed out in the first round.

Zimbabwe have a new coach Dav Whatmore, who won the World Cup with Sri Lanka in 1996, and there is renewed hope in the team.

“Team spirit is very good, I think it’s the best it has been in a long time,” said Taylor.

“The guys are excited about what the new coach has brought in. He’s a very experienced coach, he has a World Cup under his belt.

“So, he’s sharing some valuable knowledge that we’re all buying into.”

The team departs this afternoon for a 10-day training camp in New Zealand where they hope to intensify their preparations.

Zimbabwe have lined up three practice matches against local sides next week starting on Monday.

They will then engage co-hosts New Zealand and Sri Lanka in two more warm-up matches.

“The expectations for us are to go down there and win,” said Taylor.

“I believe we can win. Obviously, we’ll be trying to beat Ireland and UAE, of which we’re expected to do that, and then hopefully get one big win over one of the other teams and qualify to the next round.

“So that’s definitely our aim and we feel we’re more than capable of doing that. Of course, they are all going to be tricky (games). Obviously, they are the four main teams in South Africa, India, West Indies and Pakistan.

“But we feel if we can get a win over Pakistan or West Indies, they can be vulnerable at times. So if we can play our best cricket we certainly can get one over them.”

Zimbabwe will be looking up to the experience of players such as Taylor, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Regis Chakabva, Prosper Utseya, Tinashe Panyangara and captain Elton Chigumbura.

Chamu Chibhabha, Tawanda Mupariwa and Stuart Matsikenyeri played at the 2007 World Cup and are making a return to the tournament in the West Indies.

There have been also interesting additions to the team like Hamilton Masakadza who will need to prove himself for the first time at the big stage after missing the last three editions.

Hopes are also pinned on the other World Cup debutants like Sikandar Raza, Solomon Mire, Tendai Chatara and Tafadzwa Kamungozi who have shown much promise.

“It’s exciting with the youngsters that we’ve in the side. We’ve a couple of new faces like Tafadzwa Kamungozi and Solomon Mire,” said Taylor.

“These are guys that are certainly going to contribute to the team. We feel we’ve a nicely balanced side and players that can win games for Zimbabwe as well, so that’s very important.

“The preparation has been good. The guys are fresh, they’ve trained hard and we still got an extra week in New Zealand to prepare. So that will be vital, with two extra games before the ICC warm up matches start.”