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ZIMBABWE have stepped up preparations for the 2016 ICC Africa Women’s World T20 qualifying tournament in Harare from April 23-27, with the team undergoing physical conditioning, net sessions and other drills this week.

The tournament will also feature Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and will be played on a round-robin basis. The team that finishes with the most points will qualify for the 2018 ICC Women World T20 in the West Indies.

The national women’s squad has been training under the watchful eyes of head coach Trevor Phiri and assistants Leonard Nhamburo and Mufaro Chiturumani.

The women’s team took on the national Under-16 boys in a practice match at the Country Club, which is one of the two venues for the qualifying tournament. The other venue is Alex Sports Club.

The women’s cricket coordinator Caroline Nyamande said Zimbabwe Cricket was confident of not only hosting a successful tournament, but also winning it in style.

“We’re confident of putting together an impressive event and I’m also positive we will make the nation proud on the field of play too,” said Nyamande.

“The girls have been working hard and they’re raring to go. We’re going to take every match seriously because lightweights only exist on paper.”

Qualifiers match schedule

April 23: Kenya vs Uganda, Tanzania vs Zimbabwe, Kenya vs Tanzania, Uganda vs Zimbabwe

April 24: Zimbabwe vs Kenya, Uganda vs Tanzania, Uganda vs Kenya, Zimbabwe vs Tanzania

April 26: Kenya vs Zimbabwe, Tanzania vs Uganda, Tanzania vs Kenya, Zimbabwe vs Uganda. — ZC