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THE UNDERDOGS . . . Zimbabwe’s cricketers (from left) Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor and Prosper Utseya pose with the ICC Cricket World Cup trophy in Victoria Falls last year

NEW DELHI — For a small cricketing country, Zimbabwe have occasionally punched above their weight at World Cups.

They reached the Super Six stage in both 1999 and 2003.

If they are to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, Zimbabwe will need to beat Ireland and the UAE, the non-Test nations in Pool B and find a way to defeat at least one of India, South Africa, Pakistan and the West Indies.

It shapes as a tough but not impossible task and the Zimbabweans will have been encouraged by the dismal form of the West Indies during their series in South Africa.

Without again reaching the heights that were achieved when the likes of Andy Flower and Heath Streak were playing, Zimbabwe have shown they are capable of causing the occasional upset against leading teams, such as when they beat Australia in Harare last August.

Realistically they will rely on a handful of proven players such as Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams and captain Elton Chigumbura, while Solomon Mire is regarded as a promising all-rounder.

Provided Masakadza and Taylor are in form, Zimbabwe are capable of posting reasonable totals.

The bowling lacks major penetrative power but Tinashe Panyangara and Tendai Chatara lead a steady bowling attack in which left-arm spinner Williams could play an important role. Zimbabwe are usually a good fielding team.

Recent form is not encouraging.

Although Zimbabwe beat Australia in one of two matches and performed respectably against South Africa in a triangular tournament in Harare, they then underwent a disastrous tour of Bangladesh, losing all three Test matches and five one-day internationals.

In the aftermath of the Bangladesh debacle, coach Stephen Mangongo was replaced by Dav Whatmore, the much-travelled Australian and six players who did not go to Bangladesh were brought into the World Cup squad.

Whatmore was coach of Sri Lanka when they won the World Cup in 1996 and was at the helm when Bangladesh had their most successful World Cup campaign in 2007, eliminating India at the group stage and defeating South Africa in the Super Eights.

Unlike most of the other teams, Zimbabwe have not played any one-day internationals during the build-up period to the World Cup — they were last in action in Bangladesh on December 1.

In a recent interview, Whatmore said he was impressed with the determination of the players to “turn things around”.

Strength

Seasoned veterans Chigumbura, Masakadza , Taylor and Sean Williams form a nucleus of a talented bunch of individuals. Taylor is a class act and could have fit into any side in the world in his pomp.

If the batting order clicks, the team can post competitive scores. The team has done well in World Cups and can use history to their advantage. The group is tricky and if they can somehow beat one of the other Test playing sides and beat the Associate Nations, they can get to the quarter-finals.

Weaknesses

The bowling line-up is weak and is an erratic lot. Prosper Utseya comes back into the side after getting his bowling action corrected. Utseya has a vital role in the bowling line-up and as it has been the case with Saeed Ajmal, it is rather difficult to make a comeback with a corrected action.

The team looks sapped of their morale and World Cup winning coach Dav Whatmore has had very little time in getting to know the side.

Predicton

Group Stage. Do not rule out Whatmore’s knowledge and know-how at the world stage. He has seen it all and knows how to extract the best out of whatever meagre resources he has in front of him. One big upset is all it takes to sneak their way into the knockout stages

Squad

Elton Chigumbura (c), Sikandar Butt, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Solomon Mire, Tawanda Mupariwa, Tinashe Panyangara, Brendan Taylor, Prosper Utseya, Sean Williams — NDTV.