The T20 World Cup is coming soon. Before that, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh locked horns in a five-match T20 series. That worked like a practice stage before stepping into the big event. But throughout the series, Zimbabwe was seen struggling. They faced a massive defeat of 4-1 margin. After that, Captain Sikandar Raza plans to introduce fresh players and rebuild the team to ensure Zimbabwe’s future across all formats.
Zimbabwe’s Struggle Against Bangladesh:
Before stepping into the T20 World Cup, Bangladesh faced Zimbabwe in a five-match T20 series. Bangladesh completed their preparation through the series. But from Zimbabwe’s end, the performance was not as desired. In those five matches, they faced defeats in the first four matches. That was a huge setback for the team. They struggled with their form.
In the last match, they bounced back in the fifth T20 match and saved themselves being whitewashed by the hosts. Zimbabwe player Brian Bennett, who showcased his all-round abilities in the fifth T20I against Bangladesh, contributed significantly to Zimbabwe’s victory. Bennett’s performance included taking 2 wickets for 20 runs and scoring a crucial 70 runs off 49 balls. His efforts prevented Zimbabwe from enduring a clean sweep in the T20I series.
Zimbabwe’s Failure and Raza’s Goal:
Zimbabwe has faced ongoing challenges in qualifying for ICC events. The 2024 T20 World Cup marks the fourth consecutive event they have failed to reach since 2019. While talking about this, Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza said, “This is the vision. Because we are not going to the World Cup, we want to rebuild the team. We want to secure our future in all three formats. The senior guys will be there for a bit longer in ODIs and Tests, but in T20s we are trying to build a new team. The long-term vision is for these guys to gain the confidence from T20s to filter into ODIs and Tests.”
Later he added, “I can tell those youngsters that we tried our hardest (in the qualifiers) but it wasn’t meant to be. For those coming into the changing room, there’s still the right guidance available. Hopefully, our advice and guidance will help you kids cross that hurdle, and get to the World Cup if you ever have to play the qualifiers.”
Praising the Youngsters:
Benett’s 70-run knock in the fifth game uplifted Zimbabwe’s spirits. His crucial two wickets in the fourth T20I and another pair in the fifth showcased his bowling prowess. Captain Raza commended the positive attitude displayed by the younger team members, impressed by their contribution to the team’s performance. He said, “The beauty about that kid (Bennett) is that he is so selfless,” Raza said. “He batted at No. 3, then got a 44 at No. 6, then he went back to No. 3, and then he opened in the last two innings. He didn’t even complain once. We backed him fully whether he failed or not. We told him that we will give him a long run. Have a good attitude about it. We will see what position best suits you.”
Later he added, “Another example of this selflessness is Wellington Masakadza wanted to send Faraz (Akram) ahead of him. Faraz is his junior but Wellington thought that Faraz was in better form. That’s the culture we want to bring into the dressing room where everyone is constantly thinking about winning the game. We think for the whole team and the country.
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