It’s been a difficult few years for cricket in Zimbabwe but the team has enjoyed a positive month and there’s lots more to look forward to. A stunning ODI series win over Bangladesh followed a similar success on the T20 leg of the tour.
With two home series in the bag, the team can now begin to look ahead to the T20 World Cup which will be held in Australia later this year. Having already secured their place in the tournament, the series wins over this touring Bangladesh side should give captain Craig Ervine and his team a great deal of confidence.
Star of the Show
The hero for Zimbabwe across the first two ODI internationals was the veteran batter Sikandar Raza. The 36-year-old scored back to back hundreds as Zimbabwe recorded their first series win over Bangladesh in this format since 2013.
There were other solid contributions throughout the team. In the first game of the T20i series, all-rounder Ryan Burl smashed 34 from a single Nasum Ahmed over. Wickets have been shared throughout the attack with Victor Nyauchi also starring in that first game.
Things are suddenly looking very positive for Zimbabwe cricket but just what can supporters expect at this year’s T20 World Cup?
Eyes on the Big Prize
There are 16 teams in contention for the 2022 T20 World Cup and each of them are starting to focus on the competition. Squad places are up for grabs in a number of T20 series that will follow in the coming weeks.
The tournament is being held in Australia and the action gets underway on October 16th. The final is due to take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on November 13th.
Zimbabwe will have to negotiate a qualifying group before they can think about the Super 12s. There are two slots up for grabs in a section that also includes Ireland, Scotland and the West Indies.
From there, the big ICC nations get involved with the likes of Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa waiting at that Super 12 stage.
It should be a close battle at the top with India, Australia and England listed as joint favourites to win the competition. Pakistan and New Zealand are expected to be the closest challengers.
Figures are supplied by bookmakers in India and across Asia where the World Cup is highly anticipated. Asiabet sources those odds and readers can access all the latest cricket markets, together with breaking news and general blog articles.
Each sportsbook referenced on the site is reviewed extensively and it’s also possible to get directly involved in those markets. All operators are accepting sign ups subject to eligibility and a completed registration form.
Once the sign up process is complete, many of those platforms have a welcome package to take advantage of. Customers will need to add funds to cover opening bets and a range of deposit methods is in place to help with this.
There are help facilities available for anyone who gets stuck while there are other benefits to look forward to. Ongoing promos, in-play markets and a selection of other sports should be in place.
It’s a useful site for cricket World Cup betting but can Zimbabwe go deep into this tournament?
How far can Zimbabwe go?
The World Cup draw has handed Zimbabwe a tough section. Craig Ervine’s men should be looking to overcome Scotland but they will also have to beat one of either Ireland or the West Indies.
If key players such as Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, Regis Chakabva, Ryan Burl, Victor Nyauchi and the skipper Ervine himself are at the top of their game, progression to the Super 12s isn’t out of the question.
From that point, the competition would get much tougher with the bigger nations thrown into the mix.
When the 2022 World Cup comes to an end, the future is less clear with many of those key players reaching the latter stages of their careers. A younger generation needs to start coming through and taking responsibility.
The future may be unclear but this has been a bright period for Zimbabwe cricket and the challenges of the World Cup can be tackled with greater confidence.
