Excitement is building as the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup gets under way this Thursday, with Zimbabwe proudly hosting the global showpiece alongside Namibia. For the Young Chevrons, it is a rare and special opportunity to compete on the world stage in front of home support, and the signs suggest they are ready for the challenge.
Zimbabwe come into the tournament on the back of a competitive warm-up triangular series against Afghanistan and Pakistan. A hard-fought 19-run victory over Afghanistan offered encouragement and belief, while a nine-wicket defeat to Pakistan in the final served as a valuable lesson against one of the strongest youth sides in the world. Importantly, the build-up has given the squad meaningful match exposure and clarity on areas that need sharpening.
The Young Chevrons begin their World Cup campaign against Scotland, a fixture that will be key to their ambitions. On paper, it represents their most winnable group match and one they will be targeting for maximum points. England follow on Sunday, 18 January, in what will be a stern test, before Zimbabwe round off the pool stage against Pakistan next Thursday.
With the top three teams from each group progressing to the next round, avoiding a bottom-place finish is crucial. History offers hope. At the previous Under-19 World Cup, Zimbabwe reached the Super 8s after beating Namibia in their group. The question now is whether they can repeat that achievement on home soil.
Matches will be spread across Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Takashinga Sports Club in Harare and the HP Oval in Namibia, with Harare Sports Club hosting fixtures once the knockout stage begins. The pressure will be real, but with preparation done and home crowds behind them, the Young Chevrons have every reason to believe this World Cup can be a memorable one.
