ZIMBABWE move to Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo for their Super Six matches of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup qualifiers despite finishing top of Group A in the opening round.
The Chevrons won all their four matches against pre-qualifier favourites West Indies, Nepal, the Netherlands and USA to finish on eight points.
The Netherlands finished second on six points while the West Indies finished third on four point.
Zimbabwe would have retained Harare Sports Club as their venue for the three Super Six matches against Oman, Scotland and Sri Lanka.
However, to ensure that the Chevrons also play before their Bulawayo fans, it was agreed to stick to the pre-tournament rankings, which had Zimbabwe as the number two seeds in Group A, behind the West Indies.
That means Zimbabwe will open their Super 6 campaign against Oman at Queens tomorrow followed by Sri Lanka on Sunday and Scotland on Tuesday.
Zimbabwe’s first round matches against Nepal and the West Indies were sold out while matches against the Netherlands and USA had big crowds.
Against the Windies, a Fans Park was created at the rugby field behind the match venue where fans, who failed to make it inside, had to watch proceedings from a big television screen.
Previously, Bulawayo fans had showed more love for the Chevrons and now they have ‘pressure’ to, at least, match their Harare Sports Club counterparts.
Zimbabwe are seeking the four points they need to reach the finals in India in October, November.
The 100% record in the opening round means the Chevrons can afford to lose one of the three Super Six matches at Queens Sports Club and reach the final, in the process earning one of two tickets to India.
Zimbabwe carry a maximum four points to the Super Six, as do Sri Lanka who beat Scotland by 82 runs in their final Group B match at Queens Sports Club yesterday.
They are both at an advantage to meet in the July 9 final at Harare Sports Club.
Scotland and the Netherlands carry two point each into the Super Six Stage and would need to win all three matches t
The West Indies and Oman start the Super Six stage on zero points and will need a miracle to reach the final as the maximum they can achieve is six points.
Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka are already on four points.
Oman will be out of the race if they lose to Zimbabwe tomorrow and the same applies to the West Indies, who face Scotland in Harare, on Saturday.
ZIMBABWE
o stand a chance of reaching the final.
The Chevrons MUST beat Oman tomorrow to move to 6 points in the Super 6 stage, which will eliminate the Gulf side.
The hosts will then be in a comfortable position of affording to lose against either Sri Lanka on Sunday or Scotland on Tuesday, and still reach the finals in India.
Defeat against Oman will leave Zimbabwe with no margin for error against stronger sides, Sri Lanka and Scotland.
If Zimbabwe get two wins in three matches, they finish on eight points.
Eight points are beyond the reach of West Indies and Oman even before the first match of the Super Six stage.
The Netherlands and Scotland can only reach eight points by winning all their three Super Six matches.
But then they play each other in Harare on July 6, which means one misses out on the maximum possible eight points.
The Netherlands might actually be eliminated from the 8-point target when they face favourites Sri Lanka in their opening Super Six match in Bulawayo on Friday.
Scotland’s hopes of reaching the 8-point mark requires them to beat pre-tournament favourites, the West Indies, in Harare on Saturday, in their opening Super 6 match.
