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Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S Chevrons get their 2016 World T20 campaign underway today with a date against Hong Kong in India hoping to overcome a tricky hurdle to qualify for the main tournament.

The Chevrons and the Tigers of Bangladesh are the two Test nations who need to qualify for the main event at this World Cup.

Zimbabwe are in Group B of the qualifier play-off and will take on Hong Kong, Scotland and bogey side Afghanistan.

Only one team from the group qualifies for the main event.

A five-wicket win over Ireland in Sunday’s warm-up game was probably just what the Chevrons needed ahead of today’s showdown against a Hong Kong side with little to lose.

The nature of Twenty20 cricket means there will always be surprises and Hamilton Masakadza and his men will be hoping that they avoid the humiliation of a loss against the lightweights.

Hong Kong shocked Bangladesh at the 2014 edition of the tournament and want to cause another upset as the pressure is largely on Zimbabwe.

The teams have met just once before with Hong Kong pulling off a last-ball victory in a thrilling warm-up match ahead of the 2014 World T20.

“Zimbabwe have some dangerous players in their team and are probably the favourites to go through,” Hong Kong captain, Tanwir Afzal, told Cricinfo.

“But we are confident in our own abilities and for the first time for a while we will have our strongest team.

“The guys just want to do Hong Kong proud.”

Masakadza also spoke about the Nagpur pitch.

“It’s very different from the Test match wicket. That was a Test match, and this pitch has been prepared for T20, so definitely two different pitches and I think this one will play much better.”

Cricinfo believes Masakadza will be one of the key players in the qualifiers.

“The captain’s 1425 T20 runs for Zimbabwe are more than twice as many as the next-closest active player, Elton Chigumbura,” Cricinfo said.

“He also holds the marks for highest individual innings for Zimbabwe, set two months ago with an unbeaten 93 off 58 balls in Khulna against Bangladesh, and most career sixes with 47.

“Heading into this tournament, his bat is smoking hot. Last month he struck 162 not out off 71 balls for Mountaineers in a domestic T20, and an unbeaten 68 off 49 in a warm-up win over Ireland on March 7, including six sixes.”