CRICKET WORLD CUP: Amidst the chaos, Zimbabwe dare to dream again

By cricket.com

Tendai Chatara, Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams.

These four names have been synonymous with Zimbabwe cricket for over a decade and were the only players from the current set-up to feature in the 2015 ODI World Cup in Australia. It was the last time the African nation showcased their skills in the 50-over format at a world event.

Eight years to the tournament, a lot has changed in Zimbabwe cricket, but one thing that has remained undeterred is the immense passion of the players and the fans ardently supporting the team through troughs and crests. While they were touted to be one of the most improved sides in world cricket in the second half of the last decade, things seemed to have gone downhill after they failed to qualify for the 2019 World Cup in England.

Zimbabwe lost their must-win encounter against the United Arab Emirates by three runs in the Qualifiers. As the fans and the players were slowly getting themselves out of the muddle, another controversy rocked the nation as the International Cricket Council banned the team due to political interference.

“How one decision has made a team, strangers,

How one decision has made so many people unemployed,

How one decision affect so many families,

How one decision has ended so many careers,

Certainly not how I wanted to say goodbye to international cricket.”

In an emotional tweet after the ban imposed by cricket’s highest governing body, Sikandar Raza shared his thoughts and vowed to return strongly for the people of Zimbabwe.

While they were not allowed to compete in the T20 World Cup Qualifiers, which eventually resulted in the team missing out on a place in the 2021 T20 World Cup in UAE, they promised to make amends in the upcoming tournaments.

Down and dusted but with fire in their arsenal, Zimbabwe set foot in the T20 World Cup Qualifiers with 32 teams vying for four spots to secure their place in the coveted tournament in Australia in 2022.

With their bumpy ride in international cricket, not many people gave them a chance to feature in the Global Qualifier B, but they shut out the outside noise and focussed on the task at hand to reach the summit clash of the competition.

“I’m almost lost for words. It was a massive fight from the boys, and I am ecstatic for the country. I think this is huge for Zimbabwe cricket, and we look forward to the World Cup in October,” said Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine after leading his team to the finale.

With the qualification sealed and the flight to Australia confirmed, the Chevrons aimed to end the tournament in a commanding fashion against the Dutch.

In a low-scoring clash in Bulawayo, Raza produced a dominant performance to guide the team to a 37-run win and finish the tournament as well-deserved champions.

Ervine and his men ticked off one box when they set out for the Qualifiers, but by their own admission, the job was not done yet.  They were saved by rain in the first game of the tournament against South Africa, but what followed in the subsequent league game against Pakistan is one for the record books.

In pursuit of 131, Pakistan crumbled under pressure against Raza’s mystery spin to go down by a solitary run which helped Zimbabwe etch a glorious chapter in their history.

“Man, oh man, heart-stopping stuff, but what a victory for Zimbabwe. They were gone and probably half-buried at the halfway stage with just 130 but somehow, with the tall bowlers and the bounce here at Perth. With Raza in the middle, they fought and fought and finally managed to get home,” said Pommie Mbangwa in an emotional last-ball commentary of the game.

One of the pillars in guiding them to a famous win against Pakistan, Raza attributed the nation’s success in the recent past to head coach Dave Houghton.

“He keeps saying that he doesn’t have a magic wand, but I tell you, he does. He has definitely brought that magic wand in the changing room, and he keeps denying it,” Raza said in an exclusive chat with Cricket.com.

“The man is a revolutionary. He has revolutionised all of us with little, he said. But it held a lot of weight: How much he has brought accountability and honesty in the changing room, brought about camaraderie in the changing room, and lifted and respected the seniors. He’s got a magic wand, let me say that.”

As the home team gears up for their first clash against Nepal on June 18, a million eyes will be glued to their television set, hoping to see them in action later this year in India for the ODI World Cup.

It has been eight years since they last featured in the tournament, but for the four players who were part of the 2015 event, it will be one final dance.  And the fans of Chevrons would hope for Houghton to weave his magic wand and get the smiles back of the people in the African nation.

Because, they may have reached incredible highs last season, but their best may be yet to come.