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Craig Ervine

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
THE final countdown begins for the Zimbabwe national cricket team after the players regrouped yesterday for the last leg of the preparations ahead of the ICC World Cup scheduled for next month.The players returned from their franchises on Thursday after taking part in three rounds of domestic league limited overs matches inside one week.

The franchise league resumed last week and, according to ZC, the games were designed to provide a platform for game time to get the players going following a month-long festive break.

New national team coach Dav Whatmore and his charges went through their paces at Harare Sports Club yesterday and are expected to intensify their preparations before the team’s departure next Wednesday. Zimbabwe Cricket communications manager Lovemore Banda said the team has since dropped plans to camp in Dubai as was part of their earlier itinerary.

Instead the side will fly to New Zealand on Wednesday where they have arranged to play practice matches against the Northern Districts which has produced players like Daniel Vettori, Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Corey Anderson who are in the current Black Caps World Cup squad.

“The players have returned from their franchises and they started training today (yesterday) at Harare Sports Club.  They will train again tomorrow (today) and Sunday. As part of the preparations they were supposed to go to Dubai but that is no longer the plan.

“From here they will go to New Zealand on Wednesday. They will play three matches against local teams in the city of Gisborne and, afterwards, they will also play those two warm-up games arranged by the International Cricket Council.

“So, all in all, they will have five practice matches before their first game at the tournament,” said Banda.

The World Cup will start in exactly three weeks’ time and Zimbabwe have been placed in Group B, which also includes defending champions India, South Africa, Pakistan, West Indies, Ireland and United Arab Emirates.

They will play their opening match on February 15 against neighbours South Africa. Whatmore says he has been impressed by the players’ application during the week of franchise games.

There were centuries from former captain Brendan Taylor (101), Craig Ervine (103) and Sikandar Raza (106* and 104).

Hamilton Masakadza, who will be playing his first World Cup after missing the previous three editions, has also shown a lot of determination after recording scores of 93 and 85 in the last two List A matches.

National team returnee Chamu Chibhabha has also weighed in with two half tons while Tawanda Mupariwa has been consistent with the ball after forcing his way back into the fold. The two players impressed the selectors during the limited overs series against Canada early this month.

“It’s a good thing, it’s good to know that the batsmen in the squad are getting runs. Sean Williams has got some runs, Craig Ervine scored a century last week.

“Raza, BT (Taylor) and Hamilton, it’s a good sign, good to know the boys are going with a little bit of form. They are all very keen to prove that they can do it and I think they have had enough of turning up and losing matches. It’s a big motivation and it comes from within,” said Whatmore.

The World Cup will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

The Australian Embassy will host a reception ceremony for the national team on Monday and then ZC will hold a farewell function the next day to wish the players and technical well in their campaign.