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Eddie Chikamhi, Senior Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWE are set to gauge their strength ahead of the upcoming ICC Under-19 World Cup tournament in South Africa when they engage in a quadrangular cricket series beginning today against New Zealand at the Chatsworth Stadium in Durban.

The series gives the youth team coached by former Zimbabwe national team captain, Prosper Utseya, a fair chance to assess their strengths.

The team still has exactly two weeks to polish up preparations on the South African soil as the countdown to the biggest youth cricket event in the world reaches fever pitch.

The other teams involved in the series — hosts South Africa and giants India — will also get to test their preparedness in another clash at the Kingsmead Stadium.

Zimbabwe will then play defending champions India on Sunday and South Africa on Tuesday.

The top two teams at the end of the round-robin games will feature in the final next Thursday while the bottom two play the third place play-off.

Zimbabwe are hoping for better displays in this year’s ICC Under-19 World Cup.

Despite starting preparations on time and engaging in tours to South Africa, the side has lacked competitive games against the Full Members.

Coach Utseya welcomed the quadrangular as a great opportunity for his team.

“It’s quite good for the team because, in terms of international exposure, we have not played as many games against Full Member teams as most of our competitors,” said Utseya.

Zimbabwe are looking forward to improved performances in this year’s contests.

They finished 11th out of 16 teams at the 2018 Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand.

Two years earlier they had taken 10th spot at the tournament staged in Bangladesh.

The squad will be led by all-rounder Dion Myers.

The 17-year-old St George’s College pupil was a member of the 2018 World Cup squad in New Zealand and his experience will come in handy.

His deputy, Wesley Madhevere, will be playing at his third ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup event.

Madhevere made his debut at the age of 15 at the 2016 edition in Bangladesh.

Zimbabwe’s squad also includes Milton Shumba who, like Myers, also went to the 2018 tournament in New Zealand.

Nkosilathi Nungu, another survivor from the 2018 World Cup edition, was a late addition to the travelling squad following the injury to Samuel Ruwisi.

Apart from the experienced quartet, another familiar face in the squad is Dane Schadendorf, who was among the non-travelling reserves the last time.

Zimbabwe have been placed in Group C along with Bangladesh, Pakistan and Scotland.

They will open their campaign at the tournament against Bangladesh at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on January 18.

They will then take on Pakistan on January 22 and Scotland three days later at the Witrand Oval, also in Potchefstroom.

The top two teams from each of the four groups at the tournament will advance to the Super League, while the remaining teams will feature in the Plate championship.

 Zimbabwe Under-19 Squad

Dion Myers (c), Dane Schadendorf, Dylan Grant, Brandon James (w), Privilege Chesa, Wesley Madhevere, Milton Shumba, Luke Oldknow, Emmanuel Bawa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tadiwanashe Nyangani, Nkosilathi Nungu, Gareth Chirawu, Ahomed Rameez Ebrahim, Taurayi Tugwete.

New Zealand Under-19 Squad

Fergus Lellman, Rhys Mariu, Ben Pomare (w), Quinn Sunde, Jesse Tashkoff (c), Ollie White, Adithya Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Hayden Dickson, Joey Field, David Hancock, Simon Keene, Nicholas Lidstone, William O’Rourke, Beckham Wheeler-Greenall