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THE Zimbabwe cricket team will take their World Twenty20 preparations a gear up when they battle Sharjah Cricket Club in the United Arab Emirates today.

The Chevrons arrived in the UAE on Saturday and had their first training session at the match venue on Monday.

Zimbabwe have been drawn in Group B of the qualifying round of the World Twenty20 and will face Hong Kong, Scotland and Afghanistan.

This is the first time that the Chevrons have had the full services of their complete technical team led by Dav Whatmore since the duo of batting consultant Marvan Atapattu and bowling coach Makhaya Ntini were recruited.

Atapattu had been with the side in Bangladesh and his arrival sparked an improved batting performance with the Chevrons impressing, and winning, the two matches after he joined them.

But this is the first time that South African Ntini is on tour with the Chevrons.

Zimbabwe will play the Sharjah Cricket Club again tomorrow at the same venue, in a rescheduled programme because of the unavailability of the United Arab Emirates side, who are participating in the Asia Cup.

However, the final and most important leg of their preparations will come in against West Indies at the weekend, with the Chevrons playing two games against the Caribbean Islanders before connecting to India for the World Cup.

They will take on Bangladesh on March 4 and Ireland two days later at Dharamshala.

Former captain Elton Chigumbura is expected to join camp in Sharjah today after playing in yesterday’s Pakistan Super League match which featured his Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Zimbabwe Squad

Sikandar Raza-Butt, Tendai Chatara, Elton Chigumbura, Tendai Chisoro, Graeme Cremer, Luke Jongwe, Neville Madziva, Hamilton Masakadza (captain), Wellington Masakadza, Peter Moor, Richmond Mutumbami (wicket-keeper), Tinashe Panyangara, Vusumuzi Sibanda, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Donald Tiripano. — Sports Reporter/Sportszone